Chinnavedampatti Lake STP Construction Halted Amid Residents’ Site Selection Protest

Execution Paused for Site Feasibility Review

Coimbatore Corporation officials have ordered an immediate suspension of construction activities for a proposed sewage treatment plant (STP) at Chinnavedampatti lake. This decision follows a site inspection conducted on July 29 by Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja, who stepped in after more than 50 local residents and farmers submitted a formal grievance. The project will remain stalled until authorities evaluate the technical and procedural objections raised by stakeholders.

Allegations of Procedural Lapses and Relocation

Community members and local farmers are challenging the current placement of the facility, asserting that the project was moved from its original site to the lake's edge without transparency. During the Commissioner's visit, demonstrators highlighted several core grievances regarding the project's evolution:

• Lack of Consultation: Residents claim the site was shifted closer to the lake water body without public dialogue or official explanation.
• Structural Integrity: Critics questioned the safety and engineering viability of building heavy infrastructure on or near the lake bund.
• Administrative Accountability: Stakeholders demanded a formal inquiry into how the current location was finalized, insisting on disciplinary action against officials if irregularities are uncovered.

Next Steps in Project Assessment

Commissioner Ravi Teja confirmed that construction will not resume until a comprehensive review of the project’s history and the lake's ecological requirements is complete. The Corporation intends to hold further internal discussions to examine the feasibility of shifting the STP to an alternative location as requested. This administrative pause allows the city to address claims that the selection process bypassed standard regulatory scrutiny.

Source: The Hindu — Home