Forgotten lakes of Coimbatore City

Lakes in Coimbatore City

The city  of nine lakes, Coimbatore, popularly known as The Manchester of the east is one of the fastest growing cities in South India. It was an agriculture town which slowly turned up into Textile and Mechanical Instruments manufacturing hub during the past few decades.

Several large lakes were dug around the town in ancient times to reserve the water from Noyil (Originates from western ghats) river for use in dry season. The city of Coimbatore consists of nine lakes (wetlands). Singanallur Lake, Kuruchi Lake, Valankulam Lake, Krishnampatti Lake, Muthannan Lake and Seevagasintamani Lake (Scroll down for map) and a few small ones. In an urban ecosystem, these wetlands are the major life-supporting component with high concentrations of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrate species.

Noyil River, a tributary of Kaveri River, noted for its capricious nature. The river is fed mostly by the Southwest monsoon even though the Northeast monsoon brings rains which often results in floods. In-spite of its unpredictable character, the river contributes in the irrigation of considerable areas in Palladam Taluk of Coimbatore District and Dharapuram Taluk of Erode District. However the current Noyal River, just another dry river flowing behind Perur Town, clogged with all sorts of urban garbage.

Migratory Birds in Coimbatore Lakes (Wetlands)

The Coimbatore urban wetlands harbor more than 125 species of resident and migratory birds, with August – October being the peak season. Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork, Open Billed Stork, Ibis, Spot-billed Duck, Teal, Black Winged Stilt are a few species of the migratory visitors.

Current Scenario of the Coimbatore wetlands

 the city expanded, the need for water and basic amenities increased and has reached to such a level that the city is dependent on the water primarly from 3 dams constructed at the foothills of western ghats (Siruvani Dam, Athikadavu and Pillur). People forgot about these huge networks of  lakes and the locals dump trash into these lakes. These lakes, which were source of sweet water a century ago are filled with dark water clogged with all sort of industrial wastes, which the the source of foul  smell around. The lakes have become an integral part of the city drainage system. Recently a few were caught  at spot by the environmentalists of Coimbatore town, for dumping concrete debris in the lake.

Encroachment is another serious trouble faced by these lakes, many of the people living nearby, are extending their cultivation lands and houses to these fertile flood plains of these shrinking lakes. The Singanaloor lake has been bisected by a Railroad, between Palakkad and Tiripur.

There were a few attempts to save the lakes from water hyacinth, which was growing all over the lake waters.Thanks to the environmentalist group of Coimbatore, who are forcing the local governing bodies to do this work every year.

Footnotes

This report and photos are  based on Singanaloor lake,

Further Reading

    * http://www.zoosprint.org/ZooPrintJournal/2007/December/2944-2948.pdf

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