Madras HC Halts Development at Ukkadam, Valankulam Lakes Over STP Lapses

Coimbatore:The Madras High Court has directed the authorities to immediately rectify the Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at Ukkadam and Valankulam lakes and ensure that untreated wastewater does not flow into the two waterbodies.

The directions were issued by a Division Bench comprising Justice N. Sathish Kumar and Justice K. Rajasekar in W.P.No.27356 of 2019, in an order dated August 14, 2026, in connection with the issue concerning the removal of solar panels in Ukkadam and Valankulam lakes.

The court considered a report submitted by the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, which highlighted the ecological and hydrological importance of the lakes. According to the report, eight ecologically and hydrologically interconnected lakes within the Coimbatore Corporation limits are associated with the Noyyal River, with several resident and migratory bird species moving between the waterbodies.

The report stated that 183 bird species have been recorded at Ukkadam Lake, comprising 126 resident and 57 migratory species. Eight of these were classified as globally threatened, including Curlew Sandpiper and River Tern as Vulnerable species, while six were categorised as Near Threatened.

At Valankulam Lake, 104 bird species have been recorded, including 86 resident and 18 migratory species. Four species were identified as threatened, with River Tern classified as Vulnerable and three species as Near Threatened.

The report further noted that the overall bird composition of the two lakes has shifted towards woodland, generalist wetland and human-associated species, indicating a transformation of the wetland ecosystem into land managed for recreational use.

At Ukkadam Lake, several wetland-associated species, including Spot-billed Pelican, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Little Stint and Whiskered Tern, were reported to have shown moderate to major declines in reporting frequency since September 2018.

The report also observed that nearly 78 per cent of high-priority waterbirds listed in the State of India’s Birds dataset showed reduced reporting frequency at Ukkadam Lake. At Valankulam, species such as Whiskered Tern, Garganey and Little Ringed Plover showed a declining trend following implementation of the scheme.

Considering the serious lapses pointed out in the report, the High Court directed the authorities to set right the STPs at both lakes forthwith and prevent untreated wastewater from freely entering the waterbodies.

The court further directed that all further developmental activities, including ongoing and proposed projects, be halted until the Wetland Management Plan is implemented.

The court has ordered an inspection to be conducted and a report to be filed by the respondents. The matter has been posted for hearing on September 18, 2026.