Build Tsunami Memorial Pillar, fishermen urge Jaya

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on Dec 27, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/build-memorial-pillar-fishermen-urge-jaya/347224.html

CHENNAI: On the seventh anniversary of one of the most tragic natural disasters in recent Indian history (December 26, 2004 Tsunami), a fishermens’ association on Monday appealed to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to construct a ‘Tsunami Memorial Pillar’ in the city to create awareness about the day to future generations.

Speaking to Express at Pazhaverkadu, after paying homage to those swept away in the massive tidal waves that struck the Chennai coast eight years ago, K Bharathi, president of the South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association (SIFWA), said, “We appeal to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to construct Tsunami Memorial Pillars in select places in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts to create awareness to the future generations about the importance of the day.”

It may be noted that the coastal districts (except Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur) of the State and which had witnessed the Tsunami disaster and loss of lives, already have such memorial pillars, either constructed by the district administrations or by the local people themselves.

Though the three districts had also suffered loss of lives during the 2004 Tsunami, no such memorial pillars were erected yet and people were making their own arrangements on the anniversary for paying tributes to the departed souls at seashore.

“We hope that the Chief Minister would understand our appeal for having a Tsunami Memorial Pillars in these districts as presence of such structure would create more awareness about the day with the future generations”, Bharathi said.

The association also wrote letters to the CM and three district collectors for constructing the memorial.