Minister's call to protect water bodies

Tamil Development and Information Minister  M. P. Saminathan appealed to the people to protect water bodies while participating in the Tirupur Pongal Festival organized jointly by the Tirupur District Administration, Tirupur Municipal Corporation and Noyal Cultural Organization. 

 District Collector T Christhuraj, Corporation Mayor N.Dinesh Kumar, and Commissioner Pawankumar G.Kiriappanavar were present.

 In his speech, he said the Noyal River originates from the Western Ghats and provides irrigation facilities to thousands of agricultural lands and meets the drinking water needs of the general public. Surplus water flows into river Cauvery. 

The historical Kodumanal area is on the left side of the river bank where human habitation was existed thousand year back.

 Hence, the river has been used not only for agriculture but also for industry. 

Despite being contaminated due to various circumstances, efforts are being made by the people of Tirupur, Coimbatore and Erode districts to restore the river. The water bodies should always be protected. So, we celebrate this Pongal festival mostly near ponds and on the banks of rivers. 

The festival has been celebrated  to preserve the culture and tradition of Tamils. So, former CM Kalaignar identified 100 arts and conducted Chennai Sangamam Namma Ooru Festival under Art and Culture Department.

 Now, again, our Chief Minister ordered to hold Chennai Sangamum Namma Ooru festival at 18 places in Chennai Corporation area. The event has been coordinated in metropolitan areas like Madurai, Salem and Coimbatore also. In Tirupur, we are celebrating the Pongal vizha for 3 days in the district, he added. Subsequently, he felicitated Mr. Devi Bharati for winning Sahitya Akademi Award.

In the program, SP Dr Saminathan, DSP Abhishek Gupta, Tirupur Sub Collector Soumya Anand, Tirupur Corporation Zonal Heads Padmanaban, Govindasamy, Govindaraj, Uma Maheshwari, Member of Parliament G Muthukrishnan, public and many related government officials were present.