Abstract

Coimbatore town, the head-quarters of the district is fairly close to the Nilgiri hills on the Madras-Nilgiri railway line. The town is nearly 1,400 feet above sea level and has a very picturesque situa- tion, with the lofty blue hills of the Western Ghats rising on the west, and the Noyyil river running to the south, while the east and the north are vast stretches of fields mainly of black soil. A marked feature of the district, which is also shared by the town, is the presence of numerous wells, with lift irrigation mostly by electric power. The town gets an annual rainfall of only about 25 inches but the industry of the ryots has enabled them to practise agriculture in a very efficient manner, so much so that one can see plenty of green vegetation everywhere. Since 1935 the town has been getting a good supply of Siruvani water, especially in the lower parts of the town. Siruvani water being obtained from a catch- ment area in the Western ghats by tunnel and pipe-line, is better suited for irrigation than well-water which tends to be brackish and is injurious to plants. It has no doubt helped in the growing of a good number of plants of varied nature, both indigenous and exotic. The municipal parks, and the gardens of some of the wealthy households show what is possible with a good water supply.

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