Source: The Hindu
VELLORE, INDIA, August 21, 2001: Even as an unprecedented water scarcity affected the business of moulding clay and making idols, the traditional potter families of Vellore carried on their job without any let-up on the eve of Vinayaka Chathurthi. The potter families spread over the Kuttaimedu, Salavanpet and Kosapet areas had to struggle to fetch water for their job as most of the open wells and borewells in their areas have dried up. While the affluent among them bought water from private suppliers, the poorer families who depended solely on pottery had to fetch water from borewells located at a distance. A businessman residing on Thennamaram Street allowed the potters in Vinayakar Koil Street to fetch water free of cost from the borewell in his house. In view of the scarcity, the potters commenced making idols three months ahead of Vinayaka Chathurthi in order to meet the demand.