Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will on Sunday visit Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to release a Rs 100 commemorative coin to mark the birth centenary of the late DMK president and former chief minister M. Karunanidhi.
In a post on X, Rajnath Singh said, “Tomorrow, 18th August, I shall be in Chennai to attend Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s birth centenary commemorative coin release event. Also, I shall be attending inaugural function of a newly constructed state-of-the-art Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) building in Chennai. Looking forward to it.”
Singh will release the 'Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar Centenary Commemorative Coin', at an event that will also be attended by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the DMK president and Karunanidhi's son. A host of state ministers and others will also attend the event, to be held at the Kalaivanar Arangam.
Karunanidhi, born in 1924, was a Dravidian stalwart and five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu. He helmed the DMK for nearly five decades till his death in 2018.
Inauguration Of Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre
The defence minister will also inaugurate a newly constructed "state-of-the-art" Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) building in the state capital. In a statement, he said the MRCC underscores the ICG's commitment to safeguarding lives at sea and ensuring swift response in critical situations.
Singh will also inaugurate two other facilities, the Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre (RMPRC) in Chennai and the Coast Guard Air Enclave (CGAE) in Puducherry.
The statement said the “landmark occasion highlights major advancements in maritime safety and regional coordination”, which is a “significant step towards enhancing maritime security and emergency response along Indian coastline”.
The MRCC, the statement said, will substantially improve the coordination and effectiveness of maritime rescue operations for mariners and fishermen in distress at sea. Meanwhile, the RMPRC, situated on the Chennai Port premises, marks a groundbreaking advancement in marine pollution management. As the region’s first facility of its kind, it will play a pivotal role in coordinating responses to marine pollution incidents, especially oil and chemical spills, in the waters adjoining coastal states.
The Coast Guard Air Enclave at Puducherry will help ICG enhance maritime security along Puducherry and the south Tamil Nadu coast. The enclave will be equipped with Chetak and Advance Light Helicopters (ALH) squadrons, significantly improving aerial surveillance and response capabilities.