Madras High Court bans motorised boats at Valankulam Lake

The Madras High Court has ordered the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) to immediately cease the operation of motorised boats at Valankulam Lake. A special division bench directed the corporation to replace petrol-engine boats with pedal boats to protect the lake's ecology and its resident and migratory bird populations.

A report from the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History noted that the lake's ecosystem has become homogenised, lacking the diverse microhabitats necessary for birds. The court observed that continued use of motorised vessels would have a serious adverse impact on aquatic life. Additionally, the court instructed the CCMC to ensure the complete removal of water hyacinth from the lake and implement measures to prevent its recurrence.