§ Mr. WELLOCKasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State for India has received any communication from the Government of Madras with reference to the Tuticorin 1474W harbour scheme; whether he is aware that the revised estimate for carrying out this scheme is 50 per cent. higher than the original estimate and that in consequence there is widespread opposition, including that of the local Indian chamber of commerce, to continuing the scheme; whether he will consider this fact in whatever action he may take; and whether he will recommend to the Government of Madras the advisability of consulting all shades of local opinion before proceeding further with this scheme?
§ Earl WINTERTONAt the request of the Government of Madras, the Secretary of State has appointed an expert committee of harbour engineers to examine the scheme, the latest revised estimate for which was about Rs.57 lakhs as against an original estimate of about Rs.40 lakhs. A memorandum from the West Indian Chamber of Commerce has been communicated to the committee. As regards the last two parts of the question, further consideration of the matter must await the receipt of the committee's report.