The Coimbatore Corporation has finally heeded the request of NGOs and activists to clear the blockage put up on the channel from the Valankulam Lake. Fishermen had blocked the water flow along the channel.

According to sources, the 15 fishermen in the Valankulam Lake under Coimbatore Fishermen’s Cooperative Society used sand bags in the channel to check the flow of water from the west side to the east of the lake.

Many activists and various NGOs had opposed this and wanted the Corporation to take action. They circulated through social network sites images of the sand bags blocking the channel.

They said the fishermen had blocked the channel to prevent entry of fishlings from the western side of the lake to the eastern side.

On Saturday, the Corporation authorities removed the sand bags.

A fisherman said the sand bags were used to prevent the entry of hyacinth. “As per the Corporation direction, the sand bags have been removed, but it see the spread of hyacinth to the entire tank,” he added.