Madras High Court requests Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology to study revitalisation of Ukkadam and Valankulam lakes in Coimbatore

The Madras High Court has asked experts from the Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History to investigate whether the recreation of Ukkadam and Valankulam lakes by the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation is in any way harmful to the birds nesting in the two water bodies.

A special bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy asked the ornithological research institute to appoint two experts to conduct the study and directed the State government, Coimbatore Corporation and the Forest department to provide all assistance.

After finding that the regeneration activities were human-centered rather than environmentally-centered, the court ordered experts to find “whether the developmental activities currently carried out by the Company are in any way detrimental to the nesting or other activities of the birds.”

The court, which gave the expert committee 2 months to conduct the study, expected it to submit the report by February 20, 2026, including its recommendations for carrying out development activities without harming the natural life of both migratory and resident birds in the two lakes.

The orders were issued after the company filed a detailed counter-affidavit to a petition filed by activist Muralidharan, saying the solar panels were floated in an area of ​​only 0.2 acres, which is 0.05% of the total area of ​​Ukkadam Lake, and that they did not block sunlight at all for aquatic species.

The local authority also stated that diesel or mechanized boats were never used and only rowing/pedal boats were pressed into service on the lake for rescue purposes only. The court also stated that laser light shows will no longer be held in the two lakes.

After recording the statement, the judges ordered that “such sound and light displays involving lights and loud speakers, decibels, bursting of crackers and other noise polluting activities should not be used not only in these two lakes but also in any other lakes under the control of the Corporation or for that matter the Public Works Department or other local bodies in the area.”

Although the company also claimed that the bird nesting island was not affected by human activities, the judges decided to seek expert advice on the matter and ordered a study to be carried out by the ornithology research institute.