Plea to remove obstructions, waste and encroachments from major canals in Coimbatore

The Kovai Kulangal Paadhukaappu Amaippu, a voluntary organisation working to protect waterbodies, has urged the district administration to remove obstructions, waste and encroachments from key canals and watercourses in the city to ensure that rainwater reaches tanks and reservoirs during the southwest monsoon.

In a representation to District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar, the organisation said forecasts of below-normal rainfall this year made it essential to maximise rainwater storage for future drinking water and irrigation needs.

The organisation welcomed the desilting being carried out jointly by the Coimbatore Corporation and other NGOs in the Kurichi, Vellalore, Kuniyamuthur and Coimbatore canals. However, it said field inspections had revealed several issues that continue to affect the free flow of water.

At the Vellalore anicut, while desilting of the canal had been completed, plastic waste and overgrown vegetation were found blocking the inflow and outflow sections. The organisation urged the authorities to clear these obstructions on priority.

It also flagged the condition of the Chithiraichavadi canal, which carries water to Pudukulam, Kolarampathi, Selvampathi, Krishnampathi, Kumarasamy and Selva Chinthamani tanks. According to the representation, plastic and sewage waste had accumulated at several stretches of the canal, while some structures along the watercourse had deteriorated. The organisation sought immediate removal of the waste and repair of damaged structures.

The representation further pointed to issues along the Coimbatore canal. A culvert constructed across the canal near an apartment on Puttuvikki Road had reduced the flow of water towards downstream tanks, resulting in water backing up, it alleged. The organisation claimed that the structure had been built without the guidance of the WRD.

It also highlighted encroachments along the canal, including temple structures and houses built on the banks near Puttuvikki Road, saying that they were hampering desilting and maintenance works.

The organisation urged the Coimbatore Corporation and the WRD to jointly remove the encroachments and rectify the culvert to restore the canal’s carrying capacity.