Removal of blocks has allowed good flow of water
Ukkadam tank in Coimbatore has filled up. (Inset) Hyacinth in Singanallur tank is cleared by corporation staff on Tuesday (Photo: DC)
Coimbatore: Tanks in Coimbatore are brimming with water, like never before, following torrential rains. Most tanks within the corporation limits, except Singanallur, Vellalore and Valankulam, have reached their full capacity."For the first time ever, the Kurichi tank has reached up to 80 per cent of its capacity and continues to receive copious inflow. A 3.5 km stretch canal that brings water to Kurichi tank was desilted jointly by the people and government departments," said Mr Umesh Marudachalam, an environmental activist.
"The Kurichi tank remained dry for the last three years due to blocks in its inlets. After taking up desilting and removing blocks in the canal that brings water to the tank, water flow has been good. Most tanks are filling up due to the strenuous efforts of the people to revive them by taking up desilting works," said Mr R. Ravindran of the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC).
In fact, tanks like Pudhukulam, Ganganarayanasamuthram and Kolarampathy tank, located in low-lying regions, filled up long ago. The shutters of Muthunanakulam and Selvachintamany tanks, which filled up, were opened a week ago by the civic body, letting water reach the Ukkadam lake. Now the 320 acres Ukkadam tank has also reached its full capacity.
"Tanks like Selvampathy, Krishnampathi, Narasampathi, Selvachintamany are also brimming with water. Among them, the Selvachintamany tank is the smallest - around 45 acres - while all other tanks are spread over 150 acres," said Mr Umesh. While most tanks are filling up, the Singanallur tank and Valankulam, where no desilting has been done so far, are covered with a blanket of hyacinth. However, the corporation has now been involved in removing the hyacinth in the Singanallur tank to revive it. The mayor has also announced that it would be spruced up with recreational activities.
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