A large portion of the Koothappar Periyakulam has been invaded by seemai karuvelam ( prosopis juliflora) trees, much to the resentment of locals and farmers.
A number of representations notwithstanding, the trees have not been removed, residents of the town panchayat for which the wetland is a major water source lamented.
The water body in the jurisdiction of Koothappar Town Panchayat is under the control of the Public Works Department.
Tiruverumbur constituency MLA Mahesh Poyyamozhi had even raised the issue in the Assembly earlier this year. He had sought removal of the trees as per the directive of the Madras High Court and deepening of the water body on an expanse of about 75 hectares that irrigates close to 630 hectares of farmland.
With the north-east monsoon setting in, the residents in villages around the wetland are concerned about the reduction in the storage capacity caused by overgrowth of weeds.
The fresh water wetland linked to the Cauvery river through a feeder channel of the Uyyakondan river has been attracting birds, both resident and migrant species, and serving as a habitat for feeding, roosting, and nesting.
Biodiversity of the water body that is vital for attracting birds in large numbers has been threatened by the overgrowth of prosopis juliflora , locals say.
Over the last decade, residents of Koothappar Town Panchayat have also been urging the Revenue Department to evict encroachments on the water body, but to no avail.
A senior PWD official said work on clearing the trees had just begun near Tiruverumbur overbridge and would soon be extended to the water body.
