The Hindu     02.08.2012

Corporation digs in on dry bed to keep devotees' hopes alive

 With the Cauvery river sporting a dry look this year, Tiruchi Corporation is making temporary arrangements at the bathing ghats along the river at Srirangam and the city for devotees to take the customary holy dip on the occasion of Aadi Perukku on Thursday.

Normally, the river would be in full flow at this time of year. But the poor storage position at the Mettur reservoir offering no scope for release of water for irrigation this season, Aadi Perukku is expected to be a subdued affair in the delta districts this year. Newly weds, in particular, throng the river to take a holy dip and offer prayers.

Over the past few years, the corporation has been busy erecting three borewells around the Amma Mandapam bathing ghat in Srirangam to pump water into a narrow temporary canal that has been dug up on the river bed, using earthmovers, to allow people to take their holy dip. This apart, pipelines fitted with sprinklers have also been erected to enable people to have a shower on the river bed.

With people expected to turn up early in the morning, additional lighting arrangements have been made at Amma Mandapam, Odathurai and Thillai Nayagam bathing ghats.

The corporation has also arranged for special medical camps and drinking water supply at the bathing ghats. Additional sanitary staff would be deployed at the bathing ghats to clean up the places on a continuous basis on Thursday.

Mayor A.Jaya and Corporation Commissioner V.P.Thandapani inspected the arrangements being made for the festival along the river.