An advocate based in Melur submitted a petition to District Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar here on Monday demanding to install a statue of Colonel John Pennycuick outside the Melur Colonel John Pennycuick bus stand.
Petitioner B. Stalin recollecting the times before 1882 when the entire Melur area suffered drought and drinking water shortage, said it was some of the toughest days for their ancestors.
The water shortage not only put an end to their agriculture, their prime business, but also killed thousands of people, he added.
Witnessing the terrible situation in the areas around Madurai, the then British government formulated plans to bring water to areas which had no source of water for their sustenance, he recalled.
As the construction of Mullaperiyar dam was seen as a respite to the drought situation in the area, several hindrances like natural calamities and malaria slowed down the dam construction works, he added.
Mr. Stalin further stated that it was Colonel John Pennycuick who used all his will to continue the construction works at any cost. He ensured the work did not get stopped even by funding his own money.
If not for his generous service, many people in districts like Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram, would have suffered till now, he said.
However, the water supply through the dam construction gave a renewed life to many villagers by providing them the water for agriculture and drinking.
“As we lived a life with the gift given by him, we wish to remember him through a statue in our place,” he noted.
Though the bus stand was already named after him, installing a statue would add yet another memorial to his name, Mr. Stalin said.
Published – July 21, 2025 07:57 pm IST
