River Vaigai, seminal to Tamil literature, culture and civilisation, is now almost a dead river in Madurai, a city where it has been the lifeline since the ancient Sangam era. The once perennial river is now completely dry and animals in large numbers graze on its riverbed. In many parts, Vaigai is a parking lot for vehicles reaching the south Indian city famous for its historic Meenakshi Amman temple.
“We were hopeless about its revival till a few weeks ago as our pleas so far had fallen on deaf ears,” said CP Rajkumar, founder of Vaigai Association for Nature Resources and Mountain Ranges. “There was nobody to listen to our cry that the death of the river would affect future generations.”
“Now we are hopeful about its revival soon as Tamil Nadu’s fifth tiger sanctuary is coming up at the origins of Vaigai,” Rajkumar said. “Enhanced conservation activities in Meghamalai and other parts of evergreen Varusanadu hills where the river originates would…