Coimbatore - Environmental Issues

Environmental Issues

Air pollution, lack of proper waste management infrastructure and degradation of water bodies are the major environmental issues in Coimbatore. Steel foundries were established in 1950s and 1960s when there were no residential areas nearby, but growth of the city led to creation of residential areas around them. In 1990s the State Government and pollution control board took major steps to re-locate the steel foundries out of the city. The textile mills are all equipped with air treatment towers. Coimbatore has no proper underground drainage or sewage system. There is a sewage treatment plant at Ukkadam in operation with the capacity to process 70 mld of sewage water of which 20 mld is the current treating level. Garbage is collected by the Corporation and sometimes by systems developed by the local residents. Sewage is pumped into the water tanks and the Noyyal through streams. This along with garbage dumping and encroachments has led to degradation of the water bodies and depletion in the groundwater table. During the 80’s, corporation planned on closing the tanks due to encroachment by filling them with waste. But as a result of outcries from civic associations, the plan was dropped. Currently the tanks are being renovated by the city's environmental groups with their own fund-raising and the corporation. Siruthuli, an environmental organisation founded by the city's industrial houses, undertakes de-silting of tanks and cleaning of the Noyyal river. The corporation is also taking efforts to clear encroachment of the tanks.