Protect Chinnavedampatti Lake from STP Water!

About the Lake:
Chinnavedampatti Lake, a 200-acre freshwater lake in Coimbatore, has recently started seeing a naturally heavy flow of rainwater after many years thanks to the efforts of many organizations, NGOs, and Individuals who have spent countless hours in protecting and restoring this lake.

This lake is a lifeline for groundwater recharge, local agriculture, and biodiversity, benefiting thousands of people and species in the surrounding areas. Moreover, it stands as a protection against flooding in case of cloudbursts and heavy rainfall.

Chinnavedampatti Lake remains free from water, and soil pollution, making it one of the last remaining clean lakes in the region. 

The current status:

The citizens around the lake were extremely happy after the CM had promised Bhavani River water into the lake. However, recently, a shocking proposal was put forward by the corporation to release STP-treated sewage water into the lake. While wastewater treatment is essential, discharging it into a rejuvenating natural lake poses severe public health risks to all the people around and poses environmental risks.

Various groups including Farmers, Industrial groups, Resident welfare associations, Institutions, Environmentalists and individuals are vehemently opposing this move. Numerous petitions have been filed to the Corporation, Collectorate, Mayor, Peoples representatives, and Government organizations.  

Now, it is time for us citizens to use our good judgment and sign this appeal.  

Why This Matters:

📌 Public Health Hazard: Groundwater contamination can cause disease outbreaks and introduce toxins into the food chain through agriculture. 

📌 Water Contamination: Even after treatment, sewage water contains hazardous heavy metals, chemicals, and pathogens that can harm the lake ecosystem and pollute groundwater creating health issues for people around. Treated water cannot be stored in open lakes for extended periods, as exposure to sunlight leads to a rapid bacterial surge.

📌 Past Failures of STPs: Many sewage treatment plants in India have failed due to poor maintenance, resulting in untreated sewage leaking into water bodies. Similar projects have destroyed lakes even in top cities like Bengaluru and Delhi.

https://www.dtnext.in/news/chennai/no-ones-watching-chennais-sewage-treatment-plants-817248

📌 Lake objective not being met: The Lake was meant for freshwater for the people around, not STP water.

📌 Socio-cultural significance: Chinnavedampatti lake carries significant emotional and cultural and community significance. Farmers gave these lands for a specific purpose. Cultural celebrations, children's events, bird watchers, nature worshippers.. these are all tied to this lake.    

📌 Biodiversity Loss: Studies have shown that STP discharge into lakes has led to loss of Biodiversity, oxygen depletion, and destruction of life forms that sustain on the lakes. Chinnavedampatti lake is also home to many Schedule-1 and High-priority species of birds. ( Schedule I species of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which are accorded the highest level of protection.)

📌 Increased Risk of Flooding: Chinnavedampatti Lake plays a crucial role in flood control by absorbing excess rainwater. If sewage and silt accumulate in Chinnavedampatti Lake, it could reduce water retention capacity, leading to urban flooding during heavy rains, putting nearby homes, roads, and agricultural fields at risk. This has already happened in cities like Bengaluru and Chennai, where encroached and polluted lakes failed to prevent floods.

What We Demand

✅ Cancellation of the proposal to release STP-treated sewage into Chinnavedampatti Lake which is meant for fresh water and bring in Bhavani water as promised.

✅ A thorough Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the STP proposal with public participation before any further decisions are made.

✅ The STP-treated water should be redirected to existing sewage-contaminated areas/water bodies and they can set up STPs there to clean those instead of releasing it into Chinnavedampatti Lake. Any alternative uses for treated sewage water, such as industrial reuse, irrigation, and landscaping to bypass the lake, instead of dumping it into this freshwater lake. 

✅ Strict monitoring of Coimbatore’s STPs to prevent industrial waste and toxic contaminants from entering treated sewage.

✅ A long-term conservation plan for Chinnavedampatti Lake to ensure its protection for future generations.

Sign This Petition & Make Your Voice Heard!
By signing this petition, you are helping protect the people and households dependent on Chinnavedampatti Lake, our groundwater, and our community’s health.

We urge the Tamil Nadu government, Coimbatore Municipal Corporation, and environmental authorities to take immediate action and prevent this potential health disaster.

What else can you do?

👉 Sign & Share! Every signature counts in saving our lake.

👉 Use your rights as a citizen in raising queries, RTIs, submit grievances on CCMC portals, Whatsapp portals, Visit citizen forums such as Mayor, Collectorate grievance days.   

#SaveChinnavedampattiLake #NoSewageInLakes  #StopSTPPollution 

 Sources and useful links: 

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/plan-afoot-to-release-treated-sewage-water-into-chinnavedampatti-lake-in-coimbatore/articleshow/117096539.cms​

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/farmers-assail-move-by-coimbatore-corporation-to-channel-treated-ugd-sewage-into-chinnavedampatti-freshwater-lake/article69168932.ece​

https://www.dtnext.in/news/chennai/no-ones-watching-chennais-sewage-treatment-plants-817248​

https://www.etvbharat.com/ta/!state/is-coimbatore-corporation-converting-a-freshwater-lake-into-a-wastewater-lake-an-official-has-explained-the-fears-of-the-people-tamil-nadu-news-tns25011704892​

https://www.vikatan.com/government-and-politics/governance/coimbatore-corporation-planning-wastage-water-in-chinnavedampatti-lake​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQJUXONLHAg&ab_channel=PuthiyathalaimuraiTV​

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/21/treated-untreated-sewage-greatest-threat-river-biodiversity-study​

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/report-highlights-poor-state-of-sewage-treatment-plants-installed-near-bengaluru-lakes/article68638697.ece​

https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/civic/ngt-notices-issued-over-bengaluru-lake-stp-failures/articleshow/114357705.cms​

https://eos.org/articles/even-treated-sewage-harms-freshwater-ecosystems​

https://www.newindianexpre​

openpdffile.phpss.com/cities/chennai/2018/Dec/10/stp-not-in-use-sewage--discharges-into-lake-1909402.html​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B5z34XzmVo&ab_channel=RoadTales​

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L3997898/bird-list

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: The images here are a collection of various status messages of individuals and public portals of various groups visiting the lake. This is a citizen-driven appeal and it is not linked to any group/ organization, or NGO or individual. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children and youth activities at Chinnavedampatti lake

 

 

 

 

 

Hoping for the best.