Kerala CM inaugurates state-owned hotel complex

Chennai,Feb13(PTI) In a move that would strengthen tiesbetween Kerala and Tamil Nadu, at odds over the Mullaperiyardam issue, Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandhan todayinaugurated the state-owned Hotel Complex here.

Besides serving the local Malayalees, the ''Kerala HouseHotel Complex'' will also help Foreign tourists, who intend tocome to Kerala after visiting Tamil Nadu, gain more knowledgeabout the neighbouring state, Achuthanandan said.

"This is not only a happy occasion for Malayalees livingin Chennai but also those living in Kerala. People of bothStates are living in amity and this (Kerala House Hotelcomplex) will enhance it.I thank (Chief Minister) MKarunanidhi and Chennai Corporation for providing thesupport", Achuthanandan said .

He said Malayalees in Tamil Nadu never felt they wereliving "far away" from their home State as there was "nodistinct feature" between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

"Tamil Nadu is not an alien place for Malayalees. BeforeIndependence, parts of Kerala were in Tamil Nadu. Malayaleesnever feel they are in a far away place. It (Tamil Nadu) isalso their home...", he said.

Achuthanandan said five rooms in the complex would be setapart for Malayalees living in Chennai free of rent forconducting any domestic functions.

The Kerala House hotel complex, owned by the KeralaTourism Development Corporation, is spread across 55 cents onGreams Road and was constructed at a cost of Rs 23 crore. Ithas 95 rooms besides an auditorium, conference hall, arestaurant and a health club.

Similar complexes had been inaugurated in Delhi and Mumbai.

Kerala Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, ChennaiCorporation Mayor M Subramanian and a host of leadingindustrialists were present at the function.

Kerala and Tamil Nadu are at loggerheads over constructinga new dam in place of the existing over a century oldMullaperiyar dam structure. Kerala is insisting on a new damwhich Tamil Nadu feels will harm irrigation prospects in thestate.