Greens see threat to Singanallur lake in Kovai corporation’s road plans

COIMBATORE: Green activists here are angry with two upcoming scheme roads in the close proximity of Singanallur lake here. They claim that the tar roads that would replace the present dirt tracks along the lake would destroy the ecology of the lake and damage its fragile ecosystem.
One of the scheme roads, according to a resolution passed in the corporation council, is 1.4km long and connects Vellalore Road to Tiruchi Road.Never one to shy away from making grand plans, the authorities had decided to make the scheme road 40-feet wide. For the greens, the whole plan stinks of corruption.
The lake itself is a man-made water body existing ever since modern Coimbatore was built by the Kongu kings. But centuries after its genesis, the lake is in danger of being destroyed.
The villain, according to green activists, is a real estate developer, who is trying to push through a second scheme road alongside the lake through the corporation council. But even activists admit that they have a fair chance of scuttling the second scheme road.
“The whole project is being done for the benefit of realtors. Plenty of new plots are coming up in the vicinity,” said K Mohan Raj, coordinator, Tamil Nadu Green Movement.
Local planning authorities were guarded in their comment. “All we do is draw the proposal. The corporation is the final deciding authority,” they said. Corporation officials were unavailable for comment.
Also, land acquisition for the road is a problem. While LPA authorities would not comment on land acquisition issues, especially surrounding a railway track, the greens said it was impossible to build both roads without spending crores of money on acquiring land . The interest, especially in building a second scheme road, is because of high pressure from real estate developers.
“We are going to cause a stink. But the chances we have of saving Singanallur lake depends on public pressure in the end. People must put nature ahead of petty conveniences,” said eco-warrior M Yoganathan.