PERAMBALUR: The statue of Dr B R Ambedkar at the old bus stand in Perambalur was adorned with flower garlands on April 14 to mark the social reformer's birth anniversary. A month has gone by, but the flower garlands, which have now wilted, still droop from the statue, emitting a foul odour.
Such is the case with not just the statue of Ambedkar. Many other leaders' statues in Perambalur town have become derelict and dirty over time due to poor maintenance. Highlighting the need to periodically clean the statues, activists have called the attention of the authorities to the dilapidated condition of the statues.
A Ajithkumar, an activist from Kurumbalur, told TNIE, "The municipal administration is yet to remove the garlands adorned on the statue of BR Ambedkar on his birth anniversary in April. When it rains, the flowers emit odour. Officials often take the road near the statue, yet tend to overlook the condition of the statues. The public is not able to remove the garlands since the precincts of the statue is enclosed with iron rails. The statues are cleaned only on the day before the birth anniversary of the leaders. Some of the statues are partially damaged and in a dilapidation condition."
Statues of various leaders, including former chief ministers K Kamaraj, CN Annadurai, MG Ramachandran, J Jayalalithaa and Pavendar Bharathidasan and farmer leader Narayanaswamy Naidu are set up in the new bus stand, while the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi could be spotted at the old bus stand in Perambalur.
T Arasan, a flower shop owner in Perambalur, said, "Party members could be seen cleaning the statues at times. Otherwise, most of these statues continue to remain in dire straits, with some of them getting discoloured and damaged. The precinct of some of the statues has become a den of vice too. This should be prevented at any cost with official intervention."
When contacted, Perambalur Municipal Commissioner (in-charge) R Radha told TNIE, "We will look into this issue; the garlands will be removed."