Activists call for revival of ‘historic’ canal by Perambalur district admistration

‘Beginning of construction coincided with British monarch’s visit to India’

Local citizens and activists in Perambalur seek the district administration’s cooperation in recognising and reviving a canal in the town.

There are no remains of the canal except for a stone inscription, they say.

Speaking to The Hindu, Ramesh Karuppaiah, a volunteer, said that although the history of the canal remained unknown, an inscription with the date of the commencement of work on the canal lay in a dilapidated state.

In 2015, Mr. Karuppaiah and others found the inscription dated December 12, 1911. After months of research, they found that it commemorated the visit of King of England George V, to Delhi, when he laid the foundation for shifting of the capital from Calcutta to Bombay, Mr. Karuppaiah says.

“This happens to be the first time that a British ruler visited India. A large celebration was held and there were several coins, stamps and inscriptions commemorating the event. However, how a canal this far away from Delhi, in a small village, was named after him is surprising,” he says.

The canal supplied water to Perambalur Theppakulam, he adds.

The area where the milestone inscription was found, however, is in a shambles. ‘Due to several encroachments and neglect, the canal ceased to exist decades ago. Recently, due to Perambalur-Thuraiyur road-widening work, the stone too was thrown away. It is through these works that history is erased,” he rues.

The group, is now seeking to have the area recognised and the milestone inscription kept for safekeeping.

“We have approached the Commissioner of the Department of Archaeology, the Revenue department and the Perambalur municipality. We are also petitioning the Collector seeking her intervention on the same,’ Mr. Karuppaiah says.

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