CHENNAI: With less than a week to go for the high-level Modi-Xi meet, the last leg of security arrangements and refurbishing efforts in Mahabalipuram are in full swing. Work to relocate two private cellphone towers near Krishna’s butterball commenced on Friday. The towers belong to BSNL and Vodaphone and are likely to be removed within two days.
Chief Secretary K.Shanmugam had directed the relocation of these two towers during an inspection visit to Mahabalipuram last week. As these structures impaired the aesthetic appearance of the historic structure, officials called for its temporary relocation, said a source. Krishna’s butterball is a gigantic granite boulder resting on a short incline amidst the rocks of the coastal town. The delicately balanced structure continues to remain an architectural marvel, never having rolled downhill, despite a considerable portion of it having eroded over the years.
Residents too have come in full support of the government’s decision and welcomed the move. They have also requested officials to permanently relocate the two towers.
Prime minister Narendra Modi and Chinese premier Xi Jinping will visit the coastal town of Mahabalipuram for an informal meet between October 11 and October 13. The two world leaders are likely to visit several monuments in the town including Pancha Rathas, Shore Temple, Krishna’s Butter Ball and Arjuna Cave.
The high profile event at Mahabalipuram will mark the second informal meet between the leaders of the two nations. The first informal summit between the leaders was held in Wuhan in China during April 27-28 last year.
