UK team joins TN farmers to remember man who built Mullaperiyar dam

Madurai: John Pennycuick is a household name in Melur and neighbouring parts of Madurai district, where farmers honour the British engineer who transformed agriculture through the construction of the Mullaperiyar dam. What is usually observed as a simple annual event at the John Pennycuick Memorial Hall got an added significance on Wednesday with the visit of a delegation from England's Camberley, where Colonel John Pennycuick died on March 9, 1911.The delegation included Mathew Sleap and Sharon Pilling from St Peter's Church, Surrey Heath councillor Alan Ashbery, Surrey heath mayor Louise Ashbery, deputy mayor Cliff Bennett and Nicky Coles. Around 300 to 400 farmers and members of the public gathered at the Colonel John Pennycuick bus stand in Melur to receive the delegation. They were welcomed with garlands. The delegation watched cultural performances. The early celebrations of John Pennycuick's birth anniversary (Jan 15) included a cake-cutting ceremony and distribution of sweets."Our entire district and even neighbouring districts are alive only because of him. The Mullaperiyar dam is the backbone of our agriculture," said M Murugan, president Mullaiperiyar Single Crop Farmers Association in Melur. "Generations of farmers continue to benefit from the irrigation provided by the dam," he said. Later, an indoor meeting was held, during which farmers reiterated their long-pending demand to erect a statue of Pennycuick in front of the bus stand.Before departing, the delegation was presented with gifts including sweets, shawls, calendars, books and other mementoes. The delegation will watch Avaniyapuram jallikattu on Jan 15. Surrey heath mayor Louise Ashbery will sign an agreement with Madurai corporation commissioner Chitra Vijayan on Jan 16 regarding the twin cities partnership. The long-term collaboration aims at promoting cooperation in education and research, culture and heritage, tourism, economic development and urban sustainability.