COIMBATORE: Perur Pond, located near Puttuvikki Road and known as one of the cleanest waterbodies in the district, is under threat as garbage collectors from surrounding areas have been disposing off waste into the pond and on its banks.
Perur Pond is one of the few waterbodies in the district free from sewage and garbage contamination, making it a critical resource for the local ecosystem. However, dumping of garbage not only threatens its biodiversity but also risks polluting the groundwater, which could have far-reaching consequences for the community.
T Ramesh Kannan, a local activist from the area, said, “As the pond serves as an important water source and supports the local ecosystem, this violates environmental ethics and local governance. Hence, allowing it to become a dumping ground is unacceptable.”
Activists have also urged the authorities to take swift action against those responsible. They have also called for better waste management practices within the CCMC limits to prevent further misuse of the pond. Suggestions include stricter monitoring of waste disposal by CCMC workers and imposing fines on violators.
R Manikandan, Kovai Kulangal Padhukappu Amaippu coordinator and environmentalist told TNIE, “We have seen garbage in the pond and have informed the Water Resources Department (WRD) officials about it. Some of them dump garbage on both the bank as well as the pond.
Once, a famous sweet shop running in the city was also seen dumping its garbage in the pond and we confronted them. However, as they apologised and begged not to complain, we let them go. Since the pond is located in Perur Panchayat, its officials need to monitor it by installing CCTV cameras.”
M Sivaguru Prabakaran, CCMC commissioner, said, “Our sanitary workers do not dump waste like that in the pond. However, I shall conduct an inquiry and check the issue since a complaint has been raised. I’ll instruct officials to investigate the matter and submit a report on it.”