Environmental stress from quarrying and waste management issues in focus in Kinathukadavu Assembly constituency

Environmental concerns in Kinathukadavu highlight quarrying impacts, water supply issues, and pollution as key election topics.

Groundwater depletion linked to stone quarrying, irregular drinking water supply and pollution from the Vellalore dump yard remain key concerns in the Kinathukadavu Assembly constituency as it heads into the election.

The Kinathukadavu Assembly constituency bordering Kerala, comprises Madukkarai Municipality, six town panchayats - Kinathukadavu, Vellalore, Ettimadai, Thirumalaiyampalayam, Othakkalmandapam and Chettipalayam - and seven village panchayats - Sokkanur, Pottaiyandipurambu, Vadaputhur, Solavampalayam, Kuthiraialayampalayam, N.10 Muthur and Kodangipalayam. Parts of the Coimbatore South region and wards 94 to 100 of the Coimbatore Corporation, including Kurichi and the SIDCO industrial estate, also fall within the segment.

The constituency’s economy is driven by quarrying, agriculture and coir-related activities, with small and micro enterprises present in other areas. Tomato and coconut are the main crops, with vegetable cultivation also significant. T. Santhakumar, a wholesale vegetable trader in the Kinathukadavu market, said that during the July–November season, around 250 tonnes of tomatoes are harvested daily and transported to markets including Ernakulam, Calicut and Tiruchi.

Farmers across Kinathukadavu taluk have raised concerns against stone quarries, alleging illegal mining has led to a drop in groundwater levels in wells and borewells. They have been holding meetings for the past three months seeking action. Farmer representatives claim quarry operators are extracting stone beyond permitted limits, using explosives and digging to depths far exceeding approvals, leading to water draining into deep quarries and affecting irrigation. They also flagged damage to village roads due to heavy trucks transporting stone.

Drinking water supply remains another issue in parts of the constituency, with residents stating that the combined water supply scheme from Aliyar is not sufficient to meet the needs of over 200 villages.

In the urban segment, concerns persist over groundwater pollution and foul smell from the Vellalore dump yard, where around 1,100 tonnes of waste from the Coimbatore Corporation is processed daily. There is a long-standing demand to clear legacy waste and improve living conditions in surrounding areas.