Environmental organisation flags erosion at Puthukkadu check dam on Noyyal

Kovai Kulangal Padhukaappu Amaippu has urged the Coimbatore district administration and the Water Resources Department to inspect the Puthukkadu and Kurichi check dams on the Noyyal river system over alleged structural risks caused by desilting and bund formation.

In a petition, the organisation said excessive excavation of the Noyyal riverbed and inadequate drainage had caused severe soil erosion along the left flank of the Puthukkadu check dam, raising concerns over the stability of its wing walls.

It also flagged erosion around the roots of heritage trees along the riverbed, warning that they were vulnerable to uprooting.

The organisation cautioned that further heavy rain could worsen the damage and sought permanent engineering solutions, including boulder pitching, gabion structures, concrete toe protection and proper drainage arrangements. It urged the authorities to avoid temporary repairs using loose soil and protect the Noyyal’s natural flow and floodplains.