Formation of Salem Division as scheduled: Karunanidhi

Chennai, July 6 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today allayed fears over formation of a separate Salem Railway Division and said the inaugural function would be held as planned in the next month.

Reacting to Southern Railway General Manager Thomas Varghese's remarks that no official information had been announced by the Railway Board, he said Minister of State for Railways R Velu had already made it clear that creation of Salem Division was already announced.

The boundaries and the jurisdiction of the Division had also been identified and finalised.

''It's surprising that the SR General Manager, who is to retire on July 18, is making such contradictory statement'', he added.

There was also no need for Tamil Nadu Government to hold talks with Kerala on the issue, he said, referring to Mr Varghese remarks that an announcement on creating the Salem Division would be made only after Chief Ministerial level talks.

The Tamil Nadu Government had given full support for the formation of the Division and the inaugural function would be held as scheduled, Mr Karunandihi said.

UNI