The Coimbatore city corporation has received 85 new applications from people living along Sanganur canal bund seeking alternate housing. Applications were received at a special camp organized for the encroachment eviction drive.

A house constructed on allegedly encroached land at Rathnapuri close to Sanganur stream collapsed during the night of January 20-21, 2025. The owner had vacated after the City Corporation issued notices to occupants of residences on encroached land a month prior. The structure partially collapsed while ground was being dug to lay basement for a retaining wall for the canal. Other occupants had demolished their illegal constructions themselves, but the owner left the partially demolished house hoping to secure an alternate site from the civic body, despite being told there would be no entitlement to structures obstructing the canal. The retaining wall construction is part of a ₹79 crore project. Work on two of 2.5 km of canal between Mettupalayam and Sathyamangalam highways was completed in the first phase with ₹49 crore expenditure. Construction resumed only after substantial time for occupants to vacate; drinking water and power supply were withdrawn.

Farmers at a district grievances meeting urged completion of Sanganur canal strengthening work passing 11 km through Coimbatore before linking 118 streams in Thadagam valley. They raised concerns about uncontrolled brick kiln operations in Thadagam valley affecting rain-fed seasonal streams feeding the canal.

A drone survey is planned for preparation of a Detailed Project Report for reviving the 118 streams. Officials from Water Resources Department and Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation were present.

Farmers requested expedited relocation of people displaced from canal embankments through Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board schemes.

Water quality studies show physio-chemical contamination in the canal from household and industrial wastewater. Groundwater samples from bore wells near the drain showed poor parameters including pH, EC, TDS, chlorides, sulphates, alkalinity and hardness. Farmers called for sewage treatment plants along the canal within city limits.

The ₹49 crore canal strengthening work funded by Infrastructure and Amenities Fund is progressing slowly. Phase two of 1 km will cost ₹30.3 crore.

Work scope includes gabion walls, chip stone channel bed, reinforced concrete embankment walls, pedestrian pathways and roads on one side. A biometric survey of encroachments is underway. Farmers called for canal widening to handle flow from the planned 118-stream revival project.

Several infrastructure and civic projects announced under the previous DMK government remain uncertain after TVK formed the new government.

The proposed G D Naidu flyover extension from Goldwins to Neelambur recently received no-objection certificates from Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). It was announced after the inauguration of the 10.1-km Avinashi Road flyover, the state’s longest.

Other projects include Semmozhi Park phase II expansion; an aviary at VOC Zoo; multi-level car parks at Gandhipuram, Raja Street and Race Course; phase II rejuvenation of the Sanganoor canal; Sathyamangalam Road widening; and Western Ring Road phase II. The Saravanampatti flyover remains stalled amid repeated hurdles and alignment concerns related to the proposed metro rail project.

Residents say infrastructure has not kept pace with rapid urban growth over the past decade. Activists and trade bodies urged the TVK government to continue public-benefit projects.