TN: Anna Library to be converted into paediatric hospital

Chennai, Nov 2: Reversing yet another decision of the previous DMK regime, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today (Nov 2) decided to convert the Anna Centenary Library Complex into a super-speciality paediatric hospital.

The library, claimed to be one of the largest in Asia, was constructed at Kotturpuram near the Anna University, a site chosen by the AIADMK government during 2001-06 for the construction of a new secretariat complex.

The Jayalalithaa government had already shifted the new Assembly-cum secretariat complex, a pet project of DMK Chief M Karunanidhi, to Fort St.George, which is under the control of Defence Ministry.

The Tamil Nadu Cabinet, which met here yesterday decided to shift the Anna Centenary Library constructed at a cost of over Rs 600 crore, to the proposed integrated knowledge centre to come up at the present directorate of public instruction at Egmore.

Jayalalithaa said in a statement today that a super speciality hospital for children had not been established any where in the country so far.

Her government had earlier decided to convert the new assembly complex as a medical college and a super speciality hospital.

Giving reasons for shifting the Anna Centenary library, constructed as part of the centenary celebrations of the DMK founder late C N Annadurai three years back, Jayalalithaa said the new knowledge centre would be nearer to the Connemara and National Book Libraries and it would be appropriate to shift the modern library to the new complex.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had addressed over 1500 students from the auditorium set up at the centenary library during her maiden visit to Chennai in July last.

PTI