Sat Jan 03 14:53:43 UTC 2026: Here’s a summary of the article and a rewritten version as a news article:
Summary:
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has rejected Coimbatore Corporation’s application to build a sewage treatment plant (STP) near Chinnavedampatti tank. Farmers have been protesting the project, fearing groundwater contamination. The Water Resources Department (WRD) had previously approved the STP, believing treated sewage water would recharge the tank and address water scarcity. However, the TNPCB insisted on compliance with its 2008 norms, including a minimum distance from water bodies and a public opinion assessment, which were not met. Farmers have been actively voicing their concerns, highlighting the original purpose of the tank was to store rainwater, and pointing out the Corporation proceeded without TNPCB sanction.
News Article:
TNPCB Halts Sewage Plant Near Coimbatore Tank Amid Farmer Protests
COIMBATORE, January 3, 2026 – The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has rejected Coimbatore Corporation’s proposal to construct a sewage treatment plant (STP) near the vital Chinnavedampatti tank, following staunch opposition from local farmers.
The proposed 9.95 MLD capacity STP aimed to treat wastewater and release it into the tank, intended to recharge groundwater and combat water scarcity, a solution previously greenlit by the Water Resources Department (WRD). The WRD order permitting construction of the STP was subject to conditions. However, farmer groups, spearheaded by Vellakinar Kalisamy, President of the Chinnavedampatti Eri Padukappu Vivasayigal Sangam, have voiced concerns that the treated sewage, regardless of processing, would contaminate the tank and surrounding groundwater.
The Chinnavedampatti tank, a 200-acre reservoir established in the 1980s to store rainwater from the Western Ghats, serves as a critical water source for the Coimbatore North area. Farmers argue the STP undermines the tank’s original purpose and threatens their livelihoods.
The TNPCB’s decision hinges on non-compliance with its 2008 regulations, requiring STPs to be at least 250 meters away from water bodies and mandating a public opinion assessment, neither of which was sufficiently addressed in the Corporation’s application. “The TNPCB rightly insisted on adherence to established guidelines, protecting the integrity of the Chinnavedampatti tank,” stated Mr. Kalisamy.
The future of the STP project remains uncertain, with the Corporation now facing the task of addressing the TNPCB’s concerns and appeasing the protesting farmers. The issue highlights the ongoing tension between urban development, water management, and agricultural needs in the region.
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