The marriage hall constructed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department at Edappadi in Salem district has remained closed for the past four years.
| Photo Credit: LAKSHMI NARAYANAN E
A marriage hall constructed at a cost of ₹3.14 crore near Edappadi bus stand by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department remains unused for the past four years.
The Department constructed the marriage hall on three acres belonging to the Nanjundeeswar Temple, near Edappadi bus stand, during the AIADMK regime. Former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami inaugurated the hall on February 22, 2021. However, the facility remains unused even after four years of inauguration. The hall is surrounded by bushes, and lacks maintenance. Though dozens of marriages are taking place in the temple, people do not prefer this hall.
S. Selvam, a resident of Edappadi, said though the marriage hall is situated near the bus stand and people have easy access to it, the ₹60,000 rent demanded by the HR and CE Department was very high for the people in rural areas in and around Edappadi. The Department should reduce the rent and carry out renovation works such as painting, cleaning, etc. Similarly, there are no chairs, dining tables, or kitchen utensils in the hall, and these should be provided. The Department should also take steps to conduct government programmes in this hall, he said.
Officials attached to the HR and CE Department said they were advertising about the facility through banners and posters on autorickshaws. But, the public are pointing out the high rent fixed for the hall. Soon, a decision will be made regarding rent revision and provision of facilities,” the officials added.
Published – December 22, 2024 07:55 pm IST