Plea to reinstall Kalingarayan statue in Erode

With the statue of the 13th-century Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan removed at Vellode for road-widening works and the State government yet to provide an alternative site, members of the Kalingarayan Trust have urged the AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami to facilitate its reinstallation at a suitable location.

The Kalingarayan Anicut and Channel System, built by Kalingarayan, has irrigated 15,743 acres in the district for over seven centuries. Recognised as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage in 2021, it remains a major tourist attraction.

A bust statue was installed at Kalingarayan’s native place, Vellode, on January 19, 2007 by members of the Kalingarayan Ayacut Farmers’ Associations, along with public and community groups. Every year, tributes are paid on the fifth day of the Tamil month of Thai, observed as Kalingarayan Day, to mark his role in constructing the 91.10-km canal in 1283.

Following directions from the State Highways Department, the statue was removed three months ago and shifted to a private location. Despite repeated representations seeking an alternative site, the issue remains unresolved. The trust has proposed reinstalling the statue at Kalingarayan Illam on Perundurai Road and unveiling it on January 18, 2026.

Led by its president N.T. Kannusamy and secretary K. Somasundaram, trust members recently met Mr. Palaniswami at his residence in Salem. He assured them that if the AIADMK returns to power in 2026, the government would reinstall the statue and accord due honour to Kalingarayan.