Weed growth halts boating at Coimbatore's Valankulam

Valankulam is an important waterbody in Coimbatore, recently developed under the Smart Cities Mission. It cost about ₹65.93 crore and attracts many visitors. The Coimbatore Corporation, along with the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, set up a boating facility at the lake, offering various boats for recreation. Currently, the boating service is suspended due to heavy weed growth on the lake. Water hyacinth is covering the water surface, disrupting the ecosystem. This weed can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes and flies, leading to health risks in the area. It also harms fish populations and lowers water quality, which affects local and migratory birds that rely on the lake. Regular visitors, like K. Anand, express disappointment about the suspension of boating, especially with summer holidays approaching. A Corporation official confirmed that efforts to remove the water hyacinth have begun, and they aim to clear the lake soon.