Madras High Court amici curiae recommend measures to restore Valankulam, Periyakulam in Coimbatore

The floating solar panels at Periyakulam (Ukkadam Big Tank) in Coimbatore. | Photo Credit: M. Periasamy The amici curiae of the Madras High Court in forest-related cases have recommended immediate, medium, and long-term measures for the ecological restoration of Valankulam and Periyakulam (Ukkadam Big Tank) in Coimbatore based on a report on these wetlands by scientists from the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (Sacon) – the South India Centre of the Wildlife Institute of India.The amici curiae submitted their suggestions to the special Division Bench hearing environment and forest-related cases in a writ petition filed by Chennai-based activist S. Muralidharan who sought to stop commercial activities by the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) at the two waterbodies and removal of the floating solar panels from Periyakulam.Among the short-term measures for immediate implementation, the amici curiae suggested the court to direct the CCMC to remove the solar panels at Periyakulam as recommended in the report and to restore two sewage treatment plants to working condition.They suggested continuation of the moratorium on further development at both tanks until the civic body completes an Integrated Wetland Management Plan (IWMP), with interim limits on motorised boating, public access, and night lighting as suggested in the report. They recommended relocation of recreational light or laser display from roosting areas of birds at the tanks and removal of invasive water hyacinth and plastic waste.The amici curiae suggested that the court direct the CCMC to list existing commercial fishing and aquaculture activities, eateries, boating facilities, and other structures at the tanks for an audit by Sacon. The audit must identify which structures need restriction, change, relocation or removal.As medium and long-term measures, the amici curiae recommended that the court direct the CCMC to prepare a time-bound habitat restoration plan with Sacon. The plan must set water levels for shallow-water habitat, create dry mounds under ecological study, manage vegetation on existing mounds selectively, remove concrete from bunds in phases and restore native vegetation.The amici curiae recommended that the court direct the CCMC to commission a water-quality and prey-composition study with Sacon for the waterbodies. They suggested that the court direct the State government and the civic body to prepare the IWMP with Sacon. Since the tanks connect ecologically and hydrologically, IWMP must be regional in scope and must include wetland-specific micro-plans and immediate measures. The IWMP’s outcome should be added to the City Master Plan.The amici curiae suggested that the court can direct the State government and the CCMC to consider integrated restoration across the Noyyal-linked lake system. They also recommended that the State government notify Periyakulam, Valamkulam, Narasampathy, Krishnampathy, Selvampathy, Kumaraswamy tank (Muthannakulam), Selvachinthamani, and Singanallur as wetlands under the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. Published - August 31, 2026 09:00 pm IST