Defence Ministry seeks eight acres of land to establish a world structure
Building of a memorial for former President A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam at his burial site at Pei Karumbu near here was not in the
immediate offing as the Ministry of Defence, which has taken up the
task, has sought at least eight acres of land for establishing a ‘world
class structure.’ A three-member team, headed Mala Mohan, Architect,
Additional Director General, Directorate of Architecture, Ministry of
Defence, which held discussions with the family members of Kalam here on
Tuesday, said the Ministry of Defence wanted to build the memorial with
a museum, knowledge centre, auditorium, staff quarters and parking bay
to accommodate about 2,000 vehicles and the existing 1.5 acres of land
would be hardly enough to have these structures.
“Presently,
the State government has made available about 1.5 acres of land, but we
are looking for eight acres,” she said, adding they would lay the
foundation stone for the memorial only after finalising the land
requirements.
She said the ministry had decided to
seek the additional land from the government and suggested that Kalam’s
family could also approach the government. Indicating that funds would
not be a constraint, she said they would work fast and complete the
project in a year’s time soon after the land was made available.
Ms.
Mohan was accompanied by Rajesh Kumar Kaundal, Superintendent of
Engineering, Madras Engineering Service (MES), Chennai, and G. Raja
Mahendra Reddy, Garrison Engineer, Tirunelveli.
A.P.J.M.
Sheik Saleem, grand nephew of Kalam who was present with the team,
along with A.P.J.M. Maraikayar, elder brother of Kalam, said the family
was not in a hurry as it wanted the memorial to be a world class one.
There was no chance for laying the foundation stone for the memorial on
Kalam’s first death anniversary on July 27 and “we are willing to wait,”
he said.
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