HC seeks explanation from Collector on wetland management committee

The Madras High Court has sought an explanation from Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar on why the District Level Wetland Management Committee has not been constituted and convened any meeting.
A Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Lingeswaran wanted to know the reason while hearing a plea challenging commercial activities by the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) at Periyakulam (Ukkadam Big Tank) in Coimbatore. As the matter was related to the conservation of wetlands, the Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Wetlands Authority, Chennai, was suo motu impleaded as a respondent in the case.
The matter caught the attention of the Bench during its examination of a status report filed by the CCMC Commissioner on Periyakulam. The Commissioner stated that operation of motorised boats has been stopped completely at Periyakulam. The official stated that the civic body has not undertaken further expansion of the existing floating solar panels at Periyakulam. According to the Commissioner’s report, sewage treatment plants (STP) serving Periyakulam and Valankulam are functional.
The Bench observed that though the status report had mentioned a report of the technical advisory committee with regard to STPs, it had not been annexed with the main (status) report. Present photographs of STPs had also not been annexed. It directed the Commissioner to file a fresh status report along with the report of the technical advisory committee and photographs on December 18, 2026.