Coimbatore environmentalists propose geotagging waterbodies for preservation

Environmentalists in Coimbatore have proposed a new way to protect local waterbodies. They want to assign unique identification numbers or geotag waterbodies. This would help to keep track of them and prevent them from losing their purpose over time. Many waterbodies have been neglected in the past. The environmentalists believe that making data about these waterbodies available online can help. They want information such as historical data, demographic details, and ongoing projects to be easily accessible to the public. R Manikandan, who started a pilot study in one taluk two years ago, emphasized the importance of unique identification numbers. He compared this to the Aadhaar number for individuals. Manikandan noted that while some data is available on the water resources department's website, it is not very accessible. Making this information public would allow anyone to check the status of any waterbody. He pointed out that there are about 1,200 small tanks not connected to the Noyyal river, which is a significant concern. Manikandan plans to present his project idea to local authorities to revive the pilot study, but he acknowledges that such initiatives are often expensive and time-consuming. J Sathish from the group Siruthuli supports the idea of geotagging waterbodies. He stressed that the names of each waterbody are important because they connect to local history and culture. The Indian government's Smart City project and the Catch the Rain campaign include provisions for geotagging as part of their objectives.