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SAI
GANGA
REACHES CHENNAI
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After what seemed like
an eternity, at last water has started flowing towards
Chennai. The scriptures say that Bhagiratha,
an ancient Indian sage, prayed for hundreds of years to
bring Ganges down from Heaven to Earth. With God Incarnate,
things are different. When man is in distress, He rushes
to his aid without waiting for prayers. And that is precisely
what has happened in the case of the Chennai Water Project.
Readers might recollect
the Cover Story on the Chennai Water Project, in Vol 2
Issue 3 of Heart to Heart. Click on the Archives
to go that Issue. However for the new readers, here is
a recap:
Since Baba’s
Trust had already executed various water projects in Andra
Pradesh [AP] bringing drinking water to over two million
people, the Chief Minister of AP was ready and eager to
co-operate with Baba and do all that was necessary so
that Baba’s promise to Chennai became a reality.
After technical examination, it was found that water flow
to Chennai was minimal because the original Telugu Ganga
Canal linking Kandaleru [in AP] to Poondi [in Tamil Nadu]
had become dilapidated. |
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So, it was decided to literally rebuild
the canal all the way [about 150 km] and Baba’s Trust
took upon itself the responsibility of funding the entire project. In
practice this meant a) making improvements to the reservoir in Kandaleru
so that it could hold enough water to serve even during dry seasons,
b) deepening and widening the canal as required, and c) lining the canal
with the latest technology to totally eliminate seepage.
Actually, the Project itself was completed
in thirteen months flat from the time work commenced. However, for reasons
we would never know, Swami as the Controller of Destiny delayed the
arrival of the Rain Gods. Finally, by early November 2004, there was
enough water for discharge to Chennai. And the shutters were opened
on 23rd November 2004, - that was Swami’s Prasadam to
the people of Chennai on the occasion of His 79th Birthday!
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After discharge,
water took six days to reach the zero point [just before the Poondi
reservoir]. The date was 29th November. The day was Monday and
according to the Telugu Calendar, this was actually Swami’s
Birthday. So the discharge started on the Birthday according to
one calendar, and water reached the zero point on the Birthday
according to another calendar!
A few days after the release of
water, a few devotees from Chennai came to express gratitude to
Swami. Swami went straight to them and asked eagerly like a mother,
“Did the water reach Chennai?” The devotees replied
in the affirmative and thanked Swami profusely. Swami face radiated
the joy and satisfaction of a thousand mothers.
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Later, when one of the H2H members asked
Swami if there was going to be some function to celebrate this grand
event, Swami said,
“I am happy
that water has reached My thirsty children. That is enough for Me!”
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