Work has commenced in right earnest, with survey by the District Collector, to convert former Tamil Nadu chief-minister J. Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence ‘Veda Nilayam’ into a Memorial.

RDO, District Collector and other civic officials visited the place to oversee the preparatory work in this regard.  It may be recalled that Tamil Nadu chief-minister Edapadi K. Palaniswami had announced in August this year that work to convert ‘Veda Nilayam’, the Poes Garden residence of former chief-minister J. Jayalalithaa, would commence soon.

Despite opposition by Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa’s objection to the work, survey by State Public Works Department officials started a few days back and was followed by yesterday’s visit of the District Collector and RDO amid the presence of a large posse of police force. The survey would be followed by the submission of a report in this regard to the Government.

As Deepa and Deepak have claimed that they are the ‘legal heir’ of the former chief-minister, an amount (to be specified later as per market rate) might be provided to them. However, commencement of work by PWD and other officials to convert ‘Veda Nilayam’ into a Memorial at a time when its actual ‘owner’ has not been finalized has surprised political observers.