Court Halts Coimbatore Lake Projects Over Bird Habitat Damage

The Madras High Court has issued a critical directive to halt all Smart City lakefront development activities at Ukkadam Periyakulam and Valankulam lakes in Coimbatore. This order, dated August 14, follows concerns raised about the severe impact on bird habitats.

The court's decision is based on a report submitted by the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON). SACON's findings indicate that extensive development, including concretisation, commercial operations, and floating solar plants, has drastically harmed the natural habitats of wetland birds.

SACON's report highlighted a significant decline in waterbird populations. At Ukkadam lake, the reporting frequency for high-priority waterbirds dropped by nearly 78%. Several key species have vanished from observation logs since 2021, and three endemic species haven't been recorded since September 2018.

A similar crisis affects Valankulam lake, with notable declines in species like the whiskered tern and garganey. Ecologists point to the replacement of natural shorelines with concrete embankments and poor water quality as major contributing factors.

The court mandated that sewage treatment plants at both lakes be rectified immediately to prevent untreated wastewater discharge. No further developmental activities will be permitted until a comprehensive Wetland Management Plan is implemented.