Koolipalayam Reservoir, Sarkar Periyapalayam, Tirupur
Koolipalayam
Reservoir is a major water body towards the north of Tiruppur. This Reservoir
is also called as Sarkar Periyapalayam Reservoir or Nanjarayan Tank and is used
to store water for irrigation. This tank is a home for several inland and
migratory birds for centuries. More than a hundred native and migratory species
of birds can be seen at this reservoir. The bird species which can be seen here
include Darters, Painted Storks, and Grey Herons, Yellow Wattled lapwings,
Common Snipes, Egrets, Spot Billed Ducks and several others. The Nallaru River
is a major source of water to this Reservoir.
Nanjarayan
Tank is a 440 acre reservoir in the outskirts of Tirupur town, near
Koolipalayam, off Uttukuli Road. It is officially known as “Koolipalayam
Reservoir” or “Sarkar Periyapalayam Reservoir”. The water source is the Nallar
River, flowing from the Avinashi Big Tank and few sewage canals, carrying the
effluents and sewage from Tirupur town. Eventually the water level has never
come down due to the above sources.
Geographical Position
Koolipalayam
Reservoir in Tiruppur is located at 11°07'59.8"N 77°23'15.2"E or
11.133277, 77.387546.
History
This
tank is over 400 years old and is also called as Nanjarayan Tank as it had been
constructed by King Nanjarayan who had ruled these parts several hundred years ago.
This reservoir had been maintained by several other kings and rulers due to its
importance in helping agriculture and water level in the surrounding areas.
Flora & Fauna
The
flora and fauna of this tank attracts as many as 135 species of birds from all
over. Inland birds like Spot-billed Pelicans, Painted Storks, Spoonbills, Black
Headed Ibis, Darters, Grey Herons, Purple Herons, Intermediate Egrets, Little
Egrets, Cattle Egrets, Indian Pond Herons, Little Heron, Black capped Night
Herons, Cormorants, Spot-billed Ducks, Little Grebes, Black Winged Stilts,
Common Moorhens, Common Coots, Purple Swamphens, White-breasted Waterhens,
Common Snipes, Red-wattled Lapwings and Yellow Wattled lapwings are residing in
the tank throughout the year.
It also
brings in a huge number of species from other parts of the World during the
winter. Starting from November, every year, various birds flock in to
Nanjarayan Tank and spend their winter and leave back to their home by the end
of March. Northern Shovelors, Northern Pintails, Garganey, Common Teals, Ruff,
Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Redshank, Little
Stint, Little Ringed Plover, Lesser Sandplover, Black-tailed Godwits,
Green Sandpipers, Rosy Starlints, Yellow Wagtails and Citrine Wagtails
come in huge numbers.
Apart
from the above, the green cover around the Nanjarayan Tank serves as a home for
birds like Blue Tailed Bee-eaters, Rufus Treepies, Koels, Coucals, Bay-backed
Shrikes, Pied Kingfishers, Common Kingfishers, White-throated Kingfishers,
Laughing Dove, Rock Pigeons, Eurasian Collared Dove, Rose ringed Parakeets, Brahminy
Kites, Booted Eagles, Black Kites, Drongo, Pied Bushchats, Warblers, Munias,
Barn Swallows, Swifts, Hoopoe, Spotted Owlets, Ashy Priniya, Pied Cuckoos and
Indian Rollers.