Tipplers bridge across interstate river closed

CUDDALORE: 

        A wooden bridge across the Pennai river constructed by Puducherry wine shop owners to allow tipplers to reach their shops has landed them in trouble as PWD officials issued a notice, on Wednesday, for them to dismantle it within two days.The river separates a Tamil Nadu village, Velisemmandalam, and a Puducherry village, Aaraichikuppam.
 

         This close proximity has allowed tipplers from Tamil Nadu to cross the shallow river and buy alcohol from the three wine shops situated in Aaraichikuppam.  Due to the recent spate of rains, water flow in the river had increased making it difficult to wade across. Though some enthusiastic people walked through the river water to reach wine shops, many others were left in the lurch and consequently, sales in the shops had decreased considerably.
 

            To solve this problem, wine shop owners came up with the idea of constructing a wooden bridge across the river. Once constructed it became very popular and many people from Tamil Nadu began using it. The matter came to notice of PWD department in Cuddalore and it issued a notice to the wine shop owners to dismantle the bridge within two days. They claimed that the bridge was constructed without their permission. To make their stand clear, the department, on Wednesday, blocked one end of the bridge using trees and branches.

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A large number of women participated in River Festivel Pennaiyar in Cuddalore

Participants of the rally lighting lamps on the banks of the Then Pennaiyar in Cuddalore on Saturday 

CUDDALORE:

          Fresh water sources should be protected for the good of mankind. Since life revolves around sources of water, particularly rivers, these ought to be safeguarded from wanton polluting agents.

          These were some of the observations made by the speakers at the awareness rally taken out in connection with ‘World Water Day' here on Saturday. They further said that our ancestors considered the rivers as divine entities and hence, paid homage to them.

River festivals

         With a view to sanctify rivers, ‘river festivals' used to be organised annually, by bringing the deities of the leading temples for symbolic immersion in the rivers. These well-established traditions drive home the point that the rivers are sacred and therefore deserve to get all attention for their upkeep.

Meeting requirements

           Moreover, the rivers have also been meeting the drinking water requirements of people and have been an indispensable source for irrigation. Therefore, it was enjoined upon the humanity to express their gratitude to the rivers at least once in a while, they said. A large number of women participated in the rally, carrying placards proclaiming that “rivers are our valuable assets and therefore these should be zealously guarded,” “spoil the rivers at your own peril,” “expand green cover to induce rain which in turn will augment the flow in the rivers,” and so on.

           The rally, organized under the aegis of Ekal Vidyalaya, a service organization, was flagged off by S.Arunachalam, a senior advocate, and coordinators R.Ganapathy and K.Thirumalai. The participants of the rally went to the banks of the Then Pennaiyar where a portrait of ‘Mother India,' adorned with garlands, was placed, and hymns in praise of all the rivers across the country were sung.

Flowers and earthen lamps

           Later, the participants offered flower petals to the running water and lit earthen lamps, and, sent them floating down the course of the river. Some of the participants felt that not only the rivers but the banks should also be kept in a hygienic condition.

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