Chennai, Oct 6: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary Vaiko today met the Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in New Delhi and informed him that the decision to delink the administration of line between Kinathukkadavu-Pollachi-Palakkad(79) kms) from Madurai division to annex with Palakkad division was causing resentment in the minds of people in Tamil Nadu.

In a letter addressed to Mr Lalu Prasad, a copy of which was released to the press here, Mr Vaiko said Pollachi is an important centre of agriculture and commerce in Coimbatore district. Farmers in this area cultivate groves in a large area of about 4,00,000 acres, he added.

Mr Vaiko recalled that in 1980 the railway line between Tirunelveli, Nagarkovil and Kanyakumari were included in Trivandrum division and the people of Tiruneveli and Kanyakumari district agitted against the inclusion and demanded the area to be administered in Madurai division.

The MDMK leader also reminded the Railway Minister that he had sanctioned the broadgauge conversion from gauge and allotted Rs 30 crore this year when he and the party MP Dr Krishnan, representing Pollachi Parliamentary Constituency, met him in this regard.

Mr Vaiko urged the Railway Minister to modify the decision taken on Madurai division and render justice to the people of the State.


UNI