Barriers were erected around the Managiri water channel opposite Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) and the open channel was covered with sheet metal, apparently to conceal its poor condition, ahead of chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s visit to Madurai on Monday to inaugurate the Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram schem
The attempt to cover up the condition of the channel with metal sheets brought back a reminder of May 2025, when former chief minister M K Stalin visited Madurai.
Advocate and activist R Manibharathi said the channel was in urgent need of attention, not a cover-up. This shows that this was always possible, but the drive was missing,” he said, adding that the hard work by the corporation should extend to the rest of the city as well. A senior corporation official said that the sheet metal was meant as a barrier to prevent people from climbing the bamboo structure to get a better view of CM Vijay.
However, the sheets were removed following outrage on social media over the cover-up attempt, while the bamboo barriers stayed up in order to prevent accidents or anyone falling into the channel. “Corporation has been on a war-footing over the past few days to clean up and make the area around the GRH ready for the VIP visit. He also added that the heavy traffic on the Panagal Road made desilting and waste removal from the Managiri water channel difficult and slow. At the time, the Panthalkudi channel was covered with a shamiana to hide its poor condition from the roadshow but was exposed following an inspection.
Madurai : Barriers were erected around the Managiri water channel opposite Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) and the open channel was covered with sheet metal, apparently to conceal its poor condition, ahead of chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s visit to Madurai on Monday to inaugurate the Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram scheme.