Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha laid the foundation stone for the memorial of the British Engineer, Colonel John Pennycuick, who built the Mullaiperiyar Dam.

The dam was build across the Periyar river to divert the west flowing waters of Mullai and Periyar rivers to Vaigai river to irrigate 2.23 lakh acres which is the lifeline of farmers of the Southern districts.

Ms Jayalalitha laid the foundation stone through video conferencing from Fort St. George.

The memorial is placed in the land owned by Tami Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TAN-GEDCO) complex at Lower Camp area in Theni –Kumuli Highway.

The memorial will house a bronze statue of John Pennycuick.

He has constructed the dam by selling his family property.(msn)