Perturbed by the perceived “inaction” of the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation on its petition seeking removal of encroachment in the government waterway (vari) near Thudiyalur, the Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam sought the intervention of the district administration on Thursday (July 25, 2026).

In its petition submitted to the Corporation Commissioner recently, the farmers’ association had expressed apprehensions that encroachment of the waterway by a real estate promoter by constructing a 10 feet compound wall to a stretch of nearly 500 metres, and dumping 200 loads of gravel sand could affect the livelihood of 2,000 farmers.

Submitting the petition again to the district administration on Thursday, G. Ranganathan, State organising secretary of the association, said the dumping of the sand had reduced the width of the waterway by about 30 feet, obstructing natural water flow.

Mr. Ranganathan sought action based on G.O. 540 of 2014, which relates to redressal of complaints regarding encroachments on government lands, and High Court directive for identification and removal of encroachments from watercourse lands and restoring them to their original condition.

The Water Resources Department has already identified the status of the encroached location as a waterway, and had indicated that the dumping of sand amounts to waterway encroachments.

Despite repeated objections from farmers, no effective action had been taken so far, notwithstanding a visit by the former Commissioner on June 12, 2025, followed by directives to the officials concerned to remove the encroachment and restore the waterway, Mr. Ranganathan said.

A section of Revenue Department officials, subordinate officials of Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, the ward councillor concerned and the real estate promotor, Mr. Ranganathan alleged, were utilising devious methods to thwart action.

The petition demanded legal action based on the findings recorded after direct supervision by Revenue Department, Corporation officials, WRD, and Survey Department, in the past.

The waterway land must be demarcated to prevent future encroachments, and legal proceedings must be initiated against the encroachers under the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act, and other applicable laws, Mr. Ranganathan said.