Coimbatore’s lakes tell a story of how a city can forget its own lifelines, and what it takes to remember them. For decades, the gradual loss of records and maps of these water bodies also meant a loss of public memory and a disregard for the lakes. As active documentation of the water system faded, so did stewardship that should have taken care of them, leaving the lakes to decline.

When a severe drought hit the city in early 2003, and it became clear that the water table had been completely depleted, leaving the city with no buffer for its water sources, the turning point came not from government action but from ordinary citizens and local groups who stepped in to fill the gap. Citizen-led organisations, through their research, mapped old water channels, and, through volunteer action, revived stories and connections to the lakes, and pushed for sustained change through activism and collaboration.

Over time, partnerships among communities, NGOs, industries, and the state began to shape new restoration efforts. By making the lakes visible again, through walking paths, open parks or biodiversity zones, these spaces helped people reconnect with the lakes. What emerges is a reminder that preserving a city’s ecology is not just about physical restoration but also about documenting and sharing its histories, so that citizens can once again regard these lakes as part of their collective identity and future.


Nāgrika-Connect is a nationwide movement towards reimagining the future of small-cities by tapping into the collective insight and imagination of citizens, citizen-groups and other city-based actors.It is initiated with the objective to learn from and support organisations engaged in citizen-focused work in small cities of India. Keeping them at the centre, unlocking local knowledge that can build unique and resilient cities.We aim to achieve this by creating platforms for communities to raise their voices, foster peer learning and find pathways to influence policymakers. Through it all we stay committed to provide research through fieldworks, city-based case studies and a network for inter-city learning and growth.