Lamps were lit and set afloat in the Kurichi pond by the Kurichi Protection Association as part of Karthikai Deepam and in order to create awareness about the necessity to save the water body.

The Kurichi pond, located on the Pollachi Road near Ukkadam, Coimbatore, actually measures about 320 acres, but illegal encroachments have reduced it to 280 acres. Also, the influx of sewage water and the uncontrolled growth of water hyacinth have depleted the water in the pond. In an attempt to create awareness among the public about the need to protect the pond, the Kurichi Protection Association lit and set afloat lamps on the pond as part of the Karthikai Deepam celebrations.

The lamps were dragged by a boat towards the centre of the pond. The members raised slogans stressing the need to protect the water bodies.

Kanagaraj, secretary of Kurichi Protection Association stressed on the need to construct a sewage water treatment plant to prevent contamination of the pond, and the municipality authorities’ intervention to remove the water hyacinth.