The Madras High Court has requested experts from Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History to study whether the revitalisation of Ukkadam and Valankulam lakes by the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation was in any way detrimental to the birds that nest in the two waterbodies.
A special Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy requested the ornithology research institute to depute two experts for conducting the study and directed the State government, Coimbatore Corporation and Forest department to extend all assistance.
After finding that the revitalisation activities were more anthropocentric than being ecocentric, the court wanted the experts to find out “whether the developmental activities that are being carried out now by the Corporation are in any manner detrimental to the nesting or other activities of the birds.”
Granting two months’ time for the expert committee to conduct the study, the court expected it to submit a report by February 20, 2026 along with its recommendations for carrying out the development activities without harming the natural life of both the migratory as well as inhabitant birds in the two lakes.
The orders were passed after the Corporation filed a detailed counter affidavit to a petition filed by activist Muralidharan and said that solar panels had been floated on just 0.2 acres, constituting 0.05% of the total area of Ukkadam lake, and that they do not in any way block the sunlight for the aquatic species.
The local body also stated that diesel or mechanised boats were not being used at all and that only rowing/pedal boats had been pressed into service in the lake, that too for rescue measures alone. It also told the court that laser light shows too were not being conducted any more at the two lakes.
After recording the submission, the judges ordered “that such sound and light shows which involve light and loud speakers, decibels, bursting of crackers and other noise polluting activities shall not only be used in these two lakes but should not be used in any other lake in the control of the Corporation or for that matter with the Public Works Department or any other local body in the area.”
Though the Corporation also claimed that the bird nesting island had been left untouched by human activities, the judges decided to call for an expert opinion on the subject and ordered for a study by the ornithology research institute.