Why did TNPCB reject Coimbatore's STP plan?

The TNPCB rejected the plan because the Coimbatore Corporation did not comply with the required environmental norms for constructing a sewerage treatment plant.

What are the farmers' main concerns about the Chinnavedampatti STP?

Farmers are primarily concerned that the proposed sewerage treatment plant will contaminate the local groundwater reserves and the Chinnavedampatti tank.

What distance must an STP be from water bodies according to TNPCB norms?

According to TNPCB's 2008 norms, a sewerage treatment plant must be at least 250 meters away from any lake or pond, ideally in the downstream direction.

Home / Environment / Pollution Board Halts Coimbatore Sewage Plant Plan

Pollution Board Halts Coimbatore Sewage Plant Plan

3 Jan

•

Summary

TNPCB rejected Coimbatore's STP application due to non-compliance with norms.
Farmers fear contamination of groundwater and oppose the project.
STP must be 250 meters away from water bodies per TNPCB 2008 norms.

Pollution Board Halts Coimbatore Sewage Plant Plan

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has rejected the Coimbatore Corporation's proposal for a sewerage treatment plant (STP) near Chinnavedampatti tank, citing non-compliance with environmental regulations. Farmers, who have been vocally opposing the project, received this information recently. Previously, in May 2025, the Water Resources Department had conditionally approved the construction of a 9.95 MLD capacity STP, highlighting its potential for groundwater recharge and ecological balance.

Despite assurances that treated water would be pollutant-free, farmers remain apprehensive about groundwater contamination. Their opposition stems from the original purpose of the 200-acre tank, established in the 1980s to store freshwater. They argue that the proposed STP would compromise the tank's water quality and its historical function as a reservoir for Coimbatore North and flood mitigation for the Sanganoor canal.