Six milekal (milestone) erected by the British during the evaluation of Kalingarayan Canal in 1859 were unearthed by farmers during the recent cleaning works.
Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan began the construction of the 90.5km-long canal in 1271 and completed it in 1283. It starts across Bhavani River and joins Noyyal River at Kodumudi irrigating over 15,000 acres. Recently, the Public Works Department permitted the Kalingarayan Mathaku Pasana Vivasayigal Sabai to carry out Kudimaramathu works at a cost of ₹ 47 lakh from 19.5 mile to 56.5 mile.
Works began on September 3 and were completed on September 24.
During the works, members found milekal , a rectangle-shaped stone at the right side of the canal at six places — Amaravathi Pudur, Unjalur, Puravipalayam, Karattupalayam, Vadakku Pudupalayam, and Salai Pudur.
The 2ft stone displays the letters PWD (Public Works Department), BM (Benchmark), and the mile (km) on its sides. Two circles of different sizes are seen on the top of the stone which is said to be the logo of the PWD during the British rule.
R. Selvakumar, secretary of the Sabai, told The Hindu that the British Government placed the stones from 1st mile to 56th mile during the survey in 1859. The stones were placed 3 ft away from the canal.
Over the years, they got buried. Since the canal was built using clay, in order to protect it, the British Government had banned the movement of vehicles near the canals.
