Former PWD engineer bats for memorial for John Pennycuick in Madurai

For the past fewer weeks, respective wards successful Madurai metropolis person been getting piped drinking h2o done a caller drinking h2o scheme. The sweetness of the generously supplied h2o has led to nonaccomplishment of concern to respective suppliers of canned h2o successful the city.

But, not galore cognize that the h2o supplied to the houses is straight drawn from Lower Dam of Mullaperiyar Dam successful Idukki territory of Kerala.

This was made imaginable by British Engineer Colonel John Pennycuick, who cared for the water-starved portion of Melur. “He took up 1 of the astir challenging tasks much than 100 years backmost and diverted the west-flowing Periyar stream to Tamil Nadu by tunnelling a upland of the imposing Western Ghats,” said erstwhile Executive Engineer of Tamil Nadu Public Works Department S. Suthanthira Amalraj.

Madurai territory has been receiving the h2o of Mullaperiyar Dam, built successful 1895, for long. “It has been utilized for irrigating Madurai and Sivaganga districts. Ayacut of implicit 2 lakh acres is benefitting owed to the Periyar water. Similarly, Madurai metropolis has been getting the Periyar h2o drawn adjacent Vaigai dam for drinking purposes.

“Though 2 drinking h2o schemes for the metropolis person been implemented successful the past, not galore cognize that they are really consuming the Periyar water. The names of the schemes are aft Vaigai dam,” Mr. Amalraj said.

But present a caller drinking h2o project, named aft Mullaperiyar, nether AMRUT scheme, is nether execution. “But, still, radical of Madurai are not alert of the hardship and the determination of Col. Pennycuick, but for whose perseverance the metropolis could not person had a imperishable h2o root for irrigation and drinking purposes,” helium said.

Theni territory inactive reminisces the bully enactment of the British technologist with a memorial. Theni farmers besides amusement their gratitude by naming their children aft John Pennycuick. “It’s clip for Madurai and its radical excessively to show their respect and retrieve Col. Pennycuick,” Mr. Amalraj said.

The PWD bureau premises had a life-size statue of Pennycuick. But, the metropolis should person a memorial to punctual youngsters of the benevolence of Pennycuick.

“A exemplary of Periyar dam that diverts the west-flowing stream to Tamil Nadu tin beryllium established successful immoderate children’s park, which gives entree to public, successful the city. It volition service the purposes of knowing the value of Mullaperiyar dam and remembering a large technologist who quenched the thirst of Madurai district,” helium added.