5 months ago
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With the statue of the 13th-century Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan removed astatine Vellode for road-widening works and the State authorities yet to supply an alternate site, members of the Kalingarayan Trust person urged the AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami to facilitate its reinstallation astatine a suitable location.
The Kalingarayan Anicut and Channel System, built by Kalingarayan, has irrigated 15,743 acres in the territory for over seven centuries. Recognised arsenic a World Heritage Irrigation Structure by the International Commission connected Irrigation and Drainage successful 2021, it remains a large tourer attraction.
A bust statue was installed astatine Kalingarayan’s autochthonal place, Vellode, on January 19, 2007 by members of the Kalingarayan Ayacut Farmers’ Associations, on with nationalist and assemblage groups. Every year, tributes are paid connected the fifth time of the Tamil period of Thai, observed as Kalingarayan Day, to people his relation successful constructing the 91.10-km canal successful 1283.
Following directions from the State Highways Department, the statue was removed three months ago and shifted to a backstage location. Despite repeated representations seeking an alternate site, the contented remains unresolved. The spot has projected reinstalling the statue at Kalingarayan Illam connected Perundurai Road and unveiling it on January 18, 2026.
Led by its president N.T. Kannusamy and secretary K. Somasundaram, spot members precocious met Mr. Palaniswami astatine his residence successful Salem. He assured them that if the AIADMK returns to powerfulness successful 2026, the authorities would reinstall the statue and accord owed honour to Kalingarayan.
