DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE FOR ECO SENSITIVE AREAS IN TAMIL NADU WESTERN REGION (COIMBATORE, TIRUPPUR, KARUR AND ERODE) Published by ENVIS Centre Department of Environment Government of Tamil Nadu Assisted by ABC Techno Labs India Private Limited Anna Nagar West, Chennai – 600 040. ÂU njh¥ò v‹.o. bt§flhry« jiyik¢ brayf« R‰W¢NHš Jiw mik¢r® br‹id – 600 009 ehŸ : 31.03.2015 thœ¤Jiu mid¤J JiwfëY« jäHf¤ij Kjš khãykhf¡ bfh©L tu Óça gâfis nk‰bfh©L tU« kh©òäF jäHf Kjšt® lh¡l® òu£Á¤ jiyé m«kh mt®fë‹ têfh£Ljè‹go Kid¥òl‹ R‰W¢NHš Jiw Ïa§» tU»wJ. flšts«, Ïa‰if ts« k‰W« bjhêš Jiw ãiwªj jäœeh£oš, R‰W¢NHš ghJfh¥ò v‹gJ äf bgça rthšfëš x‹whf cŸsJ. vdnt, Ït‰iw fU¤Â‰bfh©L jäœeh£o‹ tl¡F, bj‰F, nk‰F k©ly§fëš ÏU¡F« NHš K¡»a« ãiwªj gšntW Ïa‰if ts«, bjhêš ts«, r_f bghUshjhu ãiyikfŸ F¿¤j fU¤Jfis k¡fS¡F és¡F« tifæš Ïªj m¿¡if jahç¡f¥g£LŸsJ. 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(njh¥ò v‹. o. bt§flhry«) R‰W¢NHš Jiw mik¢r® HANS RAJ VERMA , I.A.S., Environment and Forest Dept., Principal Secretary to Govt., Secretariat, Chennai-9. Date: 31 .03.2015 Foreword Conserving biodiversity and the ecosystem is the only hope for a better world. These are matters of urgency that require sustained concerted high-level attention as they have broad impact not just on the land, but also on economic and social development, and needs to be considered in the context of sustainable development of the State. To this end, we must ensure that the demand on the environment from which we derive our sustenance, does not exceed its carrying capacity for the present as well as future generations. Protecting an environment simply implies the sustainable use as well as management of natural resources which include wildlife, water, air, and earth deposits. There are renewable and non-renewable natural resources. Conservation of natural resources generally focuses on the needs & interests of human beings, for instance the biological, economic, cultural and recreational values. Conservationists have the view that development is necessary for a better future, but only when the changes occur in ways that are not wasteful. The main focus of the District Environmental Profiles of Eco-sensitive areas of Tamil Nadu is to provide the baseline data, which will aid in the formulation of an appropriate policy for wise management of the resources. The District Environmental Profiles of Eco-sensitive areas of Tamil Nadu is of great utility as it provides all the basic information required for carrying out environmental monitoring, assessment and enforcement by various Departments such as the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, TWAD Board, Chennai Metro Water and Sewerage Board etc. I congratulate DR. H. Malleshappa, I.F.S., Director of Environment and his staff, especially the ENVIS Centre, for bringing out this report. I hope that this report will be a benchmark and be used for conserving the environmental resources of Tamil Nadu by all stakeholders. DR. H. MALLESHAPPA, I.F.S., Department of Environment, Director of Environment Saidapet, Chennai-15 Date: 31 .03.2015 Preface The District Environmental Profiles of Eco-sensitive areas of Tamil Nadu provides a general picture of the various bio- physical and socio-economic conditions prevailing in the three Eco-sensitive areas of Tamil Nadu and an understanding of how human activities affect the environmental conditions and its implications on human health and economic well being. It also provides an overview of the outcome of responses such as policy initiatives, legislative reform and changes in policy behavior. The Profiles document the present status of key sectors that are concerned with the environment; and the issues that impact in key sectors such as demography, agriculture and horticulture, forests and wildlife, biodiversity, water resources, coastal and marine environment, energy, industrialization, urbanization, archaeology, tourism, pollution, waste management and infrastructure. In the absence of a centralized repository for environment related data, this report would serve as the database for policy formulation and preparation of environmental management plans in Tamil Nadu. I would also like to thank all the Government line Departments and Institutions for providing valuable data and information for the preparation of this report. I am extremely thankful to Thiru Hans Raj Verma, I.A.S., Principal Secretary, Environment and Forests Department and for his valuable guidance during the preparation of this Report. I express my thanks to Dr. Jayanthi M., I.F.S., Additional Director, Department of Environment and all the staff of the Department of Environment during the preparation of this Report. Further, I thank the staff of the ENVIS centre for collecting, collating and analyzing scientific information from various sources and compiling this report in the present form. I am sure the District Environmental Profiles of Eco-sensitive areas of Tamil Nadu, brought out through the pioneering effort of the Department of Environment will be useful to all the departments of the Government, researchers and students for environment planning and management. I welcome comments and suggestions for improving the report. Director Department of Environment ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The District Environmental Profile for the districts of Coimbatore, Karur, Tiruppur and Erode is the outcome of serious efforts and combined team work of large number of Engineers & Scientists of ABC Techno Labs India Private Limited. The real motive and dynamic force behind this report is the Department of Environment, Govt. of Tamil Nadu. In this regard we are extremely grateful to Dr. Malleshappa (Indian Forest Service), Director of Environment and his team for their suggestions, constant encouragement and meticulous care taken at all stages of preparation of the District Environmental profile for the Western Region –Tamil Nadu. We are also thankful to the various Government Departments that helped us by providing data and their comments and suggestions on the different Chapters in this report. The different personnel from the Government Departments include: S.No Name of Person & Designation Name of Government Department Department of Archaeology, Ms. M.A.P. Saraswathy, Tamil Valarchi Valagam, 1. Archeology Officer, Halls Road, Egmore, Chennai. 600 008 Thiru. S. Ananth, Directorate of Industrial Safety & Health 2. Joint Director, No.5, Chepauk, Chennai. 600 005 Dr. D. Gunasundar, Central Ground Water Board, Senior Scientist, E-Wing, Rajaji Bhavan, 3. Besant Nagar, Chennai. 600 090 Environment Cell Division, Thiru. R. Ramanathan, Public Works Department, 4. Executive Engineer, Chepauk, Chennai. 600 006 Department of Economics and Statistics, Thiru. A. Arumugam, DMS Campus, 5. Assistant Director, No.359, Anna Salai, Chennai. 600 006 Dr. R. Asokan, Regional Meteorological Centre, No.50, New No.6, College Road , 6. Scientist "E" & Director of Hydrology Division Chennai. 600 006 Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board, Thiru. K. Vadivel, No.31, Kamarajar Salai, 7. Deputy Hydrologist, Chepauk, Chennai. 600 005 iii State Ground Water and Surface Water Thiru. K.S. Kadiravan, Resources Data Centre 8. Assistant Director (WRD), Tharamani. Chennai. 600 113 Thiru. C. Chandrasekaran, Agriculture Department. 9. Deputy Director (Pulses & Oil Chepauk Seeds), Chennai. 600 005 Ms. V. Poonguzhali, Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Ltd., Deputy Manager (QA), No.692, M.H.U.Complex II Floor, 10. CIT Nagar, Nandanam, Chennai. 600 035 Medical and Rural Health Services, Dr. N. Karthikeyan, DMS Complex, 11. Joint Director (Health), No.359, Anna Salai, Chennai. 600 006 Dr. Ahana Lakshmi, Institute of Ocean Management, 12. Scientist, Anna University, Chennai. 600 025 Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, 13. The Member Secretary 76, Mount Salai, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032 Thiru. K. Rammohan, Forest Department, 14. Assistant Conservator of Forests, 9th Floor, Panagal Building, Saidapet, Chennai. 600 015 Thiru. G. Srinivasan, Tamil Nadu Generation & Distribution Superintending Engineer (Civil), Corporation Ltd., (TANGEDCO) 15. Environment Management Cell, NPKRR Maaligai, No.800 Anna Salai, Chennai. 600 002 Thiru. S. Panneerselvam, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Deputy Planner, Thalamuthu Natrajan Building, 16. No.1, Gandhi Irwin Road, Egmore, Chennai. 600 008 Corporation of Chennai, Dr. M. Jagadeesan, No.1131, EVR Periyar Salai, 17. Additional City Health Officer, Park Town, Ripon Building, Chennai. 600 003 Thiru. S. Ambethkar, Department of Geology and Mining, 18. Deputy Director, Thiru.Vi.Ka. Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai. 600 032 Thiru. C.V. Vadivelu, Institute of Water Studies, 19. Executive Engineer (WRD), Tharamani, Chennai.