Artists at work on the compound walls of the Madurai Medical College in the city on Thursday. / Photo: S. James / The Hindu

A three dimensional model tracing the course of river Vaigai is being set up near Simmakkal here, ahead of ‘Maamadurai Potruvom’ celebrations scheduled on February 8, 9 and 10.

According to S. Chandran, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Thiagarajar College of Engineering, who is supervising the project, 50 per cent of the work is over and the rest will be completed in five days. Collector Anshul Mishra, who inspected the spot on Thursday, said the project had been initiated to educate the students on the Vaigai.

An exhibition containing photographs of the river, its dams and tributaries is also likely to be organised. Those who have relevant photographs can contact the secretariat, post box number: 107, 139,140 Kamarajar Salai, Teppakulam, to exhibit them.

The project, estimated at a cost of nearly Rs.4 lakh, will cover the entire stretch from where the river originates, its course, its tributaries and the place where it merges with the ocean, said Mr Chandran.

“We are also planning on a recycled water mechanism to portray the course of the river in the model,” he said.

Students from architecture and civil engineering departments of Thiagarajar College of Engineering are involved in the project, which will stay intact for two weeks.

Lighting and other decorations will adorn the model, and the place surrounding the ‘Vasantha Mandapam’ in the Vaigai, he added. The Public Works Department has also undertaken works to clean the hyacinths around the ‘Vasantha Mandapam’ and the corporation has initiated works to lay roads around the mandapam. Artists are portraying the glory of Madurai on the walls near the collectorate.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by Staff Reporter / Madurai, February 01st, 2013