Status of Wetlands in the Coimbatore District, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to study the status of wetlands in the Coimbatore district in the TamilNadu, for the period of November 2016 to March 2017. Out of 49 wetlands, less than10 acres occupies 26%, between 11-100 acres represent 51%, 101-250 acres occupies 17% and above 250 acres contain 6% of wetlands. Compared with previous records, 51% wetlands are being used, 32% of wetlands vanished before six years and 17% of wetlands gone within 5 years. During every summer season, 53% of wetlands get dried out, 19% were partially dried up and 28% of wetlands remain as such water holding throughout the year. In Coimbatore district, 55% of wetlands were polluted by degradable and non degradable waste, 15% degradable waste, 11% non degradable waste and 19% of wetlands were out of waste dumping. According to the usage of wetlands, 20 wetlands used for irrigation, 13 wetlands used for fishing, 7% of wetlands were used for washing clothes and cleaning cattle and 2.2% of wetland used as drinking source. The results represented that decline of wetlands in Coimbatore district was due to waste dumping, construction nearby wetlands, lack of desilting and dredging, blocking water channel and lack of strict law. Apart from government regulation, better monitoring mechanism are needed to increases the knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological characteristic of wetlands resources. Awareness implemented through government and NGO for popularization of the importance of the lakes, wetlands and their role in aquatic biodiversity and sustenance of human civilization.