The city corporation plans to introduce activities involving the public at Singanallur Tank in an effort to bring down pollution of the water body, sprawling on 288 acres.

Mayor P. Rajkumar, who launched a drive to remove plastic wastes from the tank’s bund to mark World Environment Day on Sunday, said, “We strongly feel that involving the public would make them realise that this tank belongs to them. The sense of ownership could be developed only by involving them in activities around the tank. We are trying to revive boating in about a month. The Corporation will also set up a proper structure that will help study the rich biodiversity of the tank,” he told The Hindu .

Sewage treatment plant

Subsequent to the cleanliness drive, trees will be planted on the tank’s bund. On efforts to prevent pollution of the tank, he said that a private firm has come forward to establish a micro sewage treatment plant near the inlets. “We are talking to the firm and the project is expected to take shape soon,” Mr. Rajkumar said.

He also asked the officials to prevent dumping of construction debris along the tank’s bund and into the water body. The drive to clear tonnes of plastic waste from the tank's bund was initiated by Coimbatore Corporation and NGOs such as Animal Rescuers, Agni Siragugal, Green Global Trust, 6th Sense Foundation and My India My Creation Youth Club.

Director (Community Education) at Animal Rescuers Vinny R. Peter, who is doing her Ph.D. on Singanallur Tank, said that the tank has a rich biodiversity with 686 species comprising birds, insects, snakes and plants identified so far. “Sadly the tank faces a serious threat in the form of plastic wastes among other wastes dumped into it on a large scale. The main sources of plastics entering the tank are through water inlets,” she said.

The cleanliness drive would be a weekly activity.

Animal Rescuers is in talks with the civic body to come out with a solution to prevent plastic wastes from entering the tank.

On Sunday, volunteers removed plastic wastes from the dried up area at one end of the tank near Vellalore. Corporation sanitary workers cleaned the plastic covers and bottles floating near the mud road on the tank’s bund, bordering Trichy Road.

About four truckloads of plastic wastes were collected during the drive that went on till afternoon.

Those interested in joining the weekly plastic waste removal drive at Singanallur Tank on Sundays can contact Vinny at 9943325271.