Jayalalithaa inaugurates butterfly park at Vandalur

As part of an ongoing campaign projecting the state as a destination for tourists, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, early this week, inaugurated tourism projects completed at a cost of Rs 18.95 crore, including a butterfly park at Vandalur zoo, an official press release said. The butterfly park, constructed at an estimated cost of

Rs 4 crore, is spread over 6.7 acres. It will have features, including 200 species of plants and trees. Host plants have been introduced to enhance breeding of butterflies and the park will have a conducive atmosphere for insects and visitors, the release said. The CM had also inaugurated new tourism projects in Thanjavur and Theni for the benefit of visitors to the historic Kallanai and Vaigai dams.

In both the dam sites, play area for children, aquarium and an auditorium to brief the trail and origin of Cauvery river, telescope site and resting halls have been constructed at a cost of Rs 6.93 crore. At Vaigai dam, pedal boats have been introduced for tourists.

She also inaugurated buildings constructed by the State tourism and archaeology department at Egmore and Coimbatore and Tirunelveli districts and released nine books on subjects like astro lagnas, that were revived and released.