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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin connected January 18, 2026 (Sunday) inaugurated done video conferencing a bronze statue of 13th-century Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan and a room named aft him astatine Vellode successful Erode district.
Kalingarayan had constructed an anicut crossed Bhavani stream astatine Mettunasuvampalayam, conscionable supra its confluence with the Cauvery. The Kalingarayan Canal, originating from the close broadside of the anicut, runs for 91.10 km, irrigating 15,743 acres earlier joining the Noyyal stream astatine Kodumudi. The operation of the anicut and canal strategy began successful 1271 and was completed connected January 19, 1283. In designation of its humanities importance, the International Commission connected Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) declared it a ‘World Heritage Irrigation Structure’ successful 2021.
A bust of Kalingarayan that was installed astatine his hometown Vellode connected January 19, 2007, by members of the Kalingarayan Ayacut Farmers’ Associations and assemblage organisations was aboriginal removed owed to roadworthy widening and kept successful a backstage location. Tributes are paid annually connected the 5th time of the Tamil period of Thai, observed arsenic Kalingarayan Day. As nationalist onshore was not available, a backstage onshore adjacent the Arulmigu Rasa Temple was purchased to instal a statue on with a room aimed astatine helping students hole for competitory examinations.
The statue and room were inaugurated successful the beingness of Minister for Housing, Prohibition and Excise S. Muthusamy, District Collector S. Kandasamy, MP K.E. Prakash, MLAs E.R. Eswaran and V.C. Chandhirakumar, descendants of Kalingarayan, farmers and members of the public.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Muthusamy said a publication connected Kalingarayan’s past was published and efforts would beryllium made to see his contributions successful schoolhouse textbooks. The authorities has allocated ₹86 crore to renovate the Kalingarayan Canal, which volition beryllium undertaken successful March during the 45-day h2o shutdown.
Responding to concerns implicit sewage mixing successful definite stretches of the babe canal laid alongside the main canal, the Minister said insignificant lapses whitethorn beryllium but sewage inflow has mostly been prevented. As per tribunal directions, sewage is diverted done the babe canal and preventing sewage discharge wrong Erode metropolis limits volition mostly safeguard the Kalingarayan Canal.
