CHAPTER II

ECOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF COIMBATORE CITY

The land area of a city is put to a variety of uses,

like commercial, manufacturing, transportation, residential,

recreational and administrative functions. Ecology leads to

an understanding of the internal structure of a settlement,

the functions performed by the various parts and the changes

in population type or land uses within sub-areas of the settle­

ment. Human Ecology is the study of the organisation and

functioning of territorially based systems including communities,
1
cities, metropolitan areas and Nation. It is concerned with

the dynamics of the social order, in so far as change in the

structure and functions of institutions or changes in pattern

of human relationships brings about ecological changes

2
and vice-versa. The urban ecology is concerned with these
inter-relationships as they manifest themselves in the city.

It includes the study of such external expression of ecological

inter-relationship as the distribution in cities or their internal

structure and composition. It is concerned with many things such

as the location where disignated groups live, function they

perform, interactive relationships between them, their cultural,

economical, racial differences, social organisations and dynamics

of social order
 The ecological system consists of five elements. They

are population environment, technology, organisation and

social psychological factors. 3

Population

Ecology always deals with a speaific concrete population

of human beings. Population groups have characteristics which

affect their adjustment. The characteristics of population,

rate of increase or decrease, density, movement and types of

movement help to determine the degree of competition for space.

Environment

Population exists in a given natural environment which

includes location, climate, natural resources, flora and fauna,

topography, natural disasters and geological changes. The

population has to adjust to the environment since it sets limits

to the size and density of population. Again the process of

adjustment is continuous and reciprocal because man in turn
modifies the environment, through his technology.

Technology

As technological changes have taken place, the ecology

of the city correspondingly undergoes changes. The city depends

on the complex and specialised technology which makes it possible

for a considerable proportion of the population to live apart

from direct concern with agriculture.
 70

Organisation

A crucial element in the ecological complex is organi­

sation without which chaos, revolution, rapid social change

and disrupted social order would result. Urban ecology is

concerned with those aspects of social organisation which

impinge upon the community level.

Social-Psychological element

The fifth element is social-psychological aspects of

human ecology. Man is a social animal capable of a certain

action pattern in accordance with the sentiments and values

he has
v
acquired. He is a person of likes and dislikes. He

influences and is being influenced which effect his position

in the ecological structure of the community.

Ecological Process

Any of the said five ecological elements may produce

changes in the natural areas of the city and the neighbourhood.

The changes in the neighbourhood followed a set pattern which

is normally termed as Ecological Process. The stages of

ecological process are centralization, concentration, de­

centralization, segregation, invasion and succession.

Centralization is the tendency of the people,to gather

at some specific areas in a city in order to satisfy their
 71

interests, fulfill their needs or carryout designated social

or economic functions. Such a process of coming together in

a specific area is called centralization. Within centralization,

concentration of specific functions in particular locations can

be seen. For example within central business district, a

particular location for whole sale and another place for retail

sales and the like. Even in whole sale areas a particular

commodity is sold in a particular place. For instances textiles

are sold in one particular place, jaggery whole sale is in

another location and the like.

When concentration reached the optimum level,decentrali­

zation begins. Decentralization refers to the shift of functional

institutions from the centre of the city to the periphery. When

the diseconomy or disincentives outweigh the economies and

incentives of centralization, decentralization takes place.

Decentralization results in the development of sub-centres in

outer areas of the city.

Another stage in ecological process is segregation which

means the tendency of similar type of activities or like minded

people clustering together in one location. The segregation may

be voluntary or involuntary. The voluntary segregation may be

due to the natural advantages of the location and involuntary

segregation may be because of the differences in the socio­

cultural factors.
 72

When the population or activities of a particular area

increases beyond its optimum level, another stage of ecological
v

process called invasion starts. Invasion means the movement

of individuals, groups, or activities from the old location,

abondoning it to another district or location. In other words

when incentives reach a particular level, people or functions

seeks alternative location, sometimes through the process of

demand and supply, ability to pay, or for social or political

considerations. Some activities or people invade some areas

or locations and try to build or settle in that area. This

expansion or shifting to a new area is called Invasion.

In the process of invasion by well established functions,

if the new comers or strangers occupy the old area for similar

activities or for living, it is termed as 'Succession1. Similarly

an area which has been invaded, may also be succeeded for some

purpose by posterity resulting in the operation of the law of

succession.

The ecological changes produce a spatial pattern in

the city. Three theories have been formulated to explain the

spatial pattern of cities. The first is 'concentric zone

theory' of E.W. Burgees, the second is Homer Hoyt's 'sector

theory' and the third is 'multiple nuclei theory' formulated
by Harries and Ullman.
 73

Concentric zone theory

The expansion of the city is illustrated by a series

of concentric circles, which are numbered to designate both

the successive zones of urban extension and the types of areas

differentiated in the process of expansion. The circles are

v
(i) central business district (ii) the zone in transition

(iii) zone of industrial housing (iv) the medium class

residential zones (v) the high class residential zones and

the last is the commuters zones.

Sector theory

This theory holds that high rent areas tend to be

located on the outer fringes of one or more sectors of the

city and that in some segtors the low rent districts assume

the shape of a cut of pie extending from the centre to the

city's periphery. As a city grows in population, the high

rent areas move outward along one sector. Further, more

industrial areas develop along river valleys, water courses

and railtract lines. There has been a tendency to locate a

factory on the outer belt lines near the edge of the city.

Multiple nuclei theory

According to this theory each of the centres tends to

specialise in a particular kind of activity - retailing whole­

saler finance and the like. Several centres may have existed
 74

from the beginning of the city or may have developed later

in a division from one centre.

In the light of these ecological theories the ecological

structure of the Indian cities are analysed by sociologists.

The ecological structure of Delhi explains that the Old Delhi,

with its fort and subsequent expansion respresents the pre­

industrial city's characteristic features. The formation of
v

New Delhi with an elaborate masterplan and rigid land use

pattern decided by the Government fits into the sectoral model,

with political function having a dominant role with provisions

4
for the central business district's expansion.

The ecological structure of Madras, roughly fits into

the concentric zone model with the central business district,

transition zone, lower class residential area, middle class

residential area and the commuter zone, spread in three directions

in a semicircular form because of the natural barrier of sea in
the eastern direction.^ The ecological structure of Madurai,^
7 8 9
Trivendrum, Hyderabad and Banaras fits into the pre-industrial
model developed by Sjoberg.

The researcher has taken up an analysis of ecology of

Coimbatore city in its historical, socio-cultural and contemporary

settings. First a detailed discussion of the origin, location

and physical growth is presented followed by a trend analysis of

 75

population growth over a period of time. Subsequently the

contemporary situation of population distribution within the

city is explained in detail. The population movement and its

functional relationship is described. This is followed by a

description of the physical environment and its role in the

growth, development and spatial distribution of various

activities and functions. An attempt is made to understand the

role of technology in sustaining population growth and influencing

the environment in terms of economic, social and cultural

contributions. The organisation of urban system is described

and its ability to cope with the ever increasing complexity

is assessed. The social-psychological factors which sustain
the complex urban social system is described in terms of human

resources, social organizations, functional adjustments and

innovative service facilities. This is followed by a critical

evaluation of ecological structure of the city in terms of

existing theoritical models.

Though the origin of Coimbatore is shrouded in legend*

it has been established that Chola and Vijiayanagar Kings and

Tippu Sultan were associated with its history. A victor of

several conquests, Coimbatore in its present form was organised

by the British in 1804, Coimbatore owes its success to its people

whose initiative and hard work overcame problems like scarcity

of water and clay soil. Though a number of irrigation projects

 76

in this region developed a sound agrarians economy, Coimbatore

came to be known for its industrial enterprises and in the

process it is called the 'Manchester of South India' and the

'Detroit of India'.

Vellala Gounders and Kannada speaking Okkaliga Gowders

were mainly responsible for the agricultural development whereas

the Naidus were responsible for industrial and educational

development of the region. The main crops are food grains and
a number of cash crops. The industries are mainly cotton based.

The agriculture development and industrial growth are inter­

related and go together which resulted in urban growth in this

region.

Coimbatore city is the District Headquarters of Coimbatore

District Since 1804 (Previously, Bavani, a temple town was the

District Headquarters). This city is situated in the western

part of Coimbatore District.

The early name of Coimbatore city was 1KOVANPATTI',

meaning the hamlet of Kovan, the chieftain of Irula Tribes
whou constructed a temple for KONIAMMAN, their deity. Kovan was

the name of the chieftain and he was responsible for formation

of the town and has bequeathed his name to it.

In the 8th century AD, the Chola King Karikala renovated

the hamlet and renamed it as 'Kovanpudur' meaning the new town
of Kovan*. The Perur temple inscriptions (12th century)

described the town as the Kovanpudur, a hamlet in Perur Nadu.

The other two inscriptions at Komaralingam Temple and Avanashi

11
Temple give the name of the local chieftain as Kovan.

Gradually the name Kovanpudur got corrupted and

Koyampudur came to be used. During the British period, due

to the difficulty in pronounciation, the officials

12
have recorded the name as Coimbatore.

Physical structure and Growth

A Chola King by name Karikala in 874 AD constructed a

temple and a pettai (Market place) in the present central

business district area. This pettai, square in nature, with

the temple at the centre, corresponds to the present square

formed by Vysial Street, Raja Street, Oppanakkara Street and

Karuppa Gounder Street. The King constructed a fort just

south of Koniamman temple. The inscriptions at Perur Temple

and written historical records suggest that the main growth of

13
Kovanpatti was due to the extensive paddy cultivation. Hence

trade and business grew faster. Evidence that business people

from 12 places assembled in Kovanpatti have been found by the

*But the name Kovanpudur has not been mentioned by

Sundaramoorthy Swamigal (who visited Kongu Nadu in the 8th
century and composed devotional songs on Perur Temple which is
just 5 km away from Coimbatore city). It is presumed that
settlement started developing since the 9th century. The
historian CM Ramachandran Chettiar also is of the same opinion.
 78

archeology department (Inscription on copper plates found by

Rasu). Trade and business flourished in this pettai even in

9th century A.D. From that period it continues to be an urban

centre.

Conquest by Hoysala paved the way for the immigration

of Kannada speaking people into this urban settlement in the

13th century. In the 14th century, the Vijayanagara Kingdom

subdued this region. This conquest changed the town and the

settlement pattern. The Empire changed the official language

from Kannada to Telugu. Groups of Telugu people flooded

Coimbatore. Prominent present day groups viz., Naidus, Devanga

Chettiars, Telugu Brahmins trace their history in the city to
these events.14

In the 18th century, the Muslim rulers Hyder Ali and

Tippu Sultan took an active interest in Coimbatore because of

the strategic location on the main route to Palghat from Mysore.

They used the fort as a penal settlement for political prisoners.

Garrison troops were stationed in the fort area. The standing

evidence for this, is the present magistrate court where Tippu
Sultan gave judgement in those days (There is a Board in the

court to this effect). In order to promote further muslim settle-

v
ment, he constructed a number of mosques in the heart of the city
and donated vast area of irrigated lands to Mosques. The city

grew towards North due to the influx of Muslims from Mysore. In

 79

the Karnatic wars, Coimbatore, one of the army strategic points

of Tippu Sultan, was devastated, deserted and reduced to the

condition of a small village. As a consequence some of the

early Hindu buildings and palaces in the 'Pettai1 and 'Kottai'

areas can no longer be traced.

This town, after the entry of the British, especially

with its designation as a District Head quarters in 1804 AD

it became an urban settlement in the present form and developed

considerably. This place had the following advantages over

Bavani a good natural drainage for the urban settlement b) the

cool and often fine weather deriving from its altitude of 1400

feet, c) It's location in the Palghat Gate, with an easy access

to Palghat Garrison and Malabar Country. Office buildings and

court were constructed in the present court areas. A little

later in the century a number of Churches and schools were

established in the city by the Missionaries.

In the second half of the 19th century, the city began

to expand towards the east. First the race course was established

and then a number of bungalows, hospitals and Churches were built

in the vicinity. As early as 1850, the first hospital was established

to the west of the race course. The Collector's Office, Civil

and Sessions Court were established in this area in 4862.
 8.0

The next phase of development took place immediately

after the constitution of the Municipality in 1866 and the

introduction of the rail way line in 1869. The first cotton

mill, namely the Stanes Mill (Present C.S. & W. Mills) was

established in 1888 in the central city, near the railway

station. It became the nucleus of the city's modern industrial

growth.

Even though the first textile mill was established in

Tamil Nadu as early as 1878, it was only after 10 years a mill

was established in Coimbatore. In the agriculture sector,

the lift irrigation by electric motors was developed by then.

The textile machineries were imported and the motors and pumps

were brought from Calcutta. The spare parts also were brought

from far off places, which took a very long time. This,

inordinate delay forced the local people to produce the spare

parts in Coimbatore itself. Later, the manufacture of motors

and pumps developed in the city. The rapid development of

industry took place only after 1930. It was mainly due to

the Pykhara Hydro Electricity Scheme which went into operation

in the 1930s. Moreover, during this period, the textile

industries grew rapidly, in the surroundings of Coimbatore city.

During this period manufacturing of sarees and cotton garments

was started which laid the foundation for the major industrial

achievements of Coimbatore.
 81

Physical growth of Coimbatore city

Orginally, the main portion of the city was the Pettai,

the market town and the Kottai, the fort (E^ & E^ respectively

as given in Fig. 2). Both the Pettai and Kottai were the

surroundings of two temples. Pettai was the surrounding area

of Pettai Eswaran temple and Kottai was the surrounding area

of Kottai Eswaran temple, along with the village deity Koniamman.

These two areas existed as two individual villages with an

unoccupied interspace of about a kilometer. Later due to

physical expansion, the two settlements merged with continuous

spread of houses, making a small town with an area of two sq.km,

as given in Fig. 2.

Karikala Chola renovated the town in the second half of

the 9th century. Later Kongu Chola and Kongu Pandias ruled

the town. During this period people from the southern part

of the state might have migrated to this town. The Devar Caste
(known as Mukkulathore comprising Ahamudiar, Kallar and Maravar,

the three sub-castes) and Pallar caste (farm workers) who are

the dominant castes in the southern and eastern parts of the

present state, might have come and settled in Ramanathapuram (1)

and Puliakulam (2) areas forming two distinct settlements and

adjuscent to the existing town. These two castes are dominant

even now in these two residential areas of the city.

 CITY AREA IN 874

5>'-V::v.^l CITY AREA IN 1799

AREA IN 1866

AREA IN 1913

AREA IN 1931-81

N
1

1 km

SCALE

FIGURE 2 PHYSICAL GROWTH OF COIMBATORE CITY

SC" RCE ; D i r f- c t.o ;

 82

By the end of the 13th century# Mysore raided the

Kongu country. This encroachment by the Hoysalas into the

region paved the way for Kannada speaking people to migrate

into this town. The Kannada rulers made alteration and

addition to the town. The streets were-named after the popular

persons who stayed there. The examples are Rangai Gowder

Street# Okkaliga Street# etc. The present Raja Street was

named as 'Madayya Raja Mahal Street' meaning the street

of the King's residence. The Okkaliga migrants settled

near the Raja Street.

Later Vijayanagara Empire invaded the town in 16th and

17th century. The rulers of Vijayanagara Empire made Telugu

as official language and groups of Telugu speaking people

flooded the town and settled in Sukkirawarpet# Telugu Brahmin

street and Pappanaickenpalayam# then a sub-urban area. The

people who settled in the first two areas were service groups
viz.# the weavers, priest and village officers.

In the later part of 17th century and in the 18th century,

the town was under the rule of Nayakars of Madurai or under the

rule of Kannadiars of Mysore. There were frequent changes in

the rulers of the town. When Hyder Ali took over Mysore, the

town came under his rule and later under the rule of his son

Tippu Sultan. During these periods the city developed towards#

the North on the approach road from Mysore. During this period
 83

Mosques were constructed by Tippu Sultan in the main places

of the town. In the Mysore wars between Tippu Sultan and the

Britishers, Coimbatore played a vital role. The fort of

Coimbatore was besieged three times in 1768, 1783 and 1790.

Finally the town came into the hands of the Britishers in the
15
ye^rs 1799. Then, the town was with an area of three sq.km.

The city was full of residential areas and the market place.

The city might have existed between the four boundaries the

present railway line with part of Kattoor in the East; Selvap

Chinthamani Kulam in the West, Periakulam in the South and the

present Devanga Higher Secondary School road in the North

(Fig. No. 2).

As a result of the wars, the town of Coimbatore was

deserted and reduced to the state of a small village. Buccanan

said that the town of Coimbatore had barely 2000 occupants

after the war.Fort area was fully destroyed in the year 1799.

The other historical cities of Tamilnadu like Madurai, Tanjore

had developed in the historical period, inspite of a number of

invasions, attacks, change in rulers. But Coimbatore alone has

been reduced to a level of a petty village. The other towns,

in addition to being a political capital, had also the importance

of religious attraction, regional trade and marketing. Therefore

in spite of political eclipse, they could manage to sustain

urban status because of their other functional importance.

In the case of Coimbatore it had neither the importance of a

religious centre radiating its influence in the region* nor

an important centre of trade and commerce sustaining its

vitality from the regional economy. Therefore when political

importance declined* it could not sustain.

In the year 1799* the city comprised the urban settlements

namely the market place* fort area, Sukirawarpet* Okkaliga street,

Raja street* Telugu Brahmin street and areas in between the

market place and Periyakulam. Except the market, all other

areas were residential areas with a few administrative buildings

located in the eastern part- of the town.

In the year 1804 the town was made the district headquarters
of the district of Coimbatore. With this the growth of the town

was very rapid. Prom the early days the city started developing

towards the North and the East. In 1804 the urban settlement was

in the market area and in the fort area. When Europeans started

settling in the city* they preferred to settle in the eastern

side of the Kottai area, constructing administrative offices,

race course and the residential areas surrounding the race course

between two prominent roads, viz.* Trichy road and Avanashi road.

The other side of the expansion was towards the North in the

Sakthi road. Another side of the expansion was towards Mettupalayan

 35

road towards Mysore. The other two sides, western and

southern side of the city have natural barriers,,like water

tanks viz., Selva Chinthamani Kulam, Muthanna Kulam, Periya-

Kulam, Chinnakulam, Valankulam and fertile agricultural land.

Hence the physical expansion of the city was hindered in these

two directions.

Between 1804 and 1866 the city developed only in the

eastern side of the town. In the early years, the East Indian

Company ruled over the city. The race course area was the only

area which developed,where houses and administrative buildings

were constructed. Besides, cotton and tobacco godowns were

constructed by private persons. During the period, the Central

Jail was also established in the old municipal buildings.

In the year 1866, the town was upgraded as municipality.

Since then the city has been experiencing much faster growth

and development. In that year the area, of the city was 10.87

sq.km., having a market place, fort area, race course area,

Kattoor, Sukkirawarpet, Raja street, Edayar street, Telegu

Brahmin Street, Southern part of R.S. Puram,Uppliapalayam,

behind Thandu Mariamman Kovil, present Kempatty colony area and

Duraiyar Street area. Then existing neighbouring villages were

a
Ramanathapuram, Pulikulam and Pappanaickenpalayam.
 8(6

In the second part of the 19th century, the town had

many developments, the railway line was laid in 1883 and the

first cotton mill was established in 1888. But the industrial

development was much faster in 20th century. In 1903 plague

ravaged the town resulting in demolishing the congested and

insanitary portion of the town. In the course of the ten

years new extensions were planned and the local population

occupied more spacious residential localities. The vacant

space between the village Pappanaickenpalayam, Ramanathapuram

and Puliakulam was filled up. Leter on, the town was extended

to the Sanganoor torrent towards the North and the East. By

the year 1913 the area of the town increased from 10.87 to

21.23 sq.km.

Apart from the said villages new extention areas within

the city limits have come up in 1950s. The areas were part

of R.S. Puram, Ramnagar, part of Gandhipuram and Tatabad. In

early 50s the places beyond C.S. & W Mills and Ramnagar were
having only thorny bushes and palm trees. A maternity home

constructed out of the donation from a philanthrospist very near

the C.S. & W Mills in Krishnaswamy Mudaliar road was named by

the local people as Panankattu Hospital (a hospital in the forest

of palm trees). In early 60s Gandhipuram extension and Ratnapuri

came up, accomodating the population growth. In the early 70s

in the Pappanaickenpalayam area new colonies like GKD Nagar,
have developed.

v
 87

In late 60s and in early 70s the western side of the

city started expanding. Leaving the water tank untouched,

the housing board has constructed the colonies in Selvapuram

(previously known as Pallapalayam). With this start,

individuals also started constructing houses near these housing

colonies. Due to the pressure on land, the tanks which were

used for irrigation could not the spared. TNature also helped

the people. Between the years 1970 and 75 there was poor

rainfall in this area and the tanks were practically empty.

This enabled the poor people to construct the huts on the banks

of the water tanks. Later they encroached into the whole tank

and constructed houses. Now the whole Muthannan Kulam and Selva

Chinthamanikulam are full of houses. The traces of the water

tanks could not be seen any where there now. All these develop­

ments are within the city limit of Coimbatore.

Towards the West of Thadagam Road and the East of Tamil

Nadu Agricultural University very close to the city boundary a

fey colonies like GRG Nagar, GRD Nagar etc, have come up.

Another area was Saibaba Colony and Kuppa Konan pudur.

When the Coimbatore Municipality was upgraded to a corporation

in 1981 these areas were included in the city. This areas,
forming part of the northern fringe of the city, had many urban

characteristics. Existence of a town panchayat administration,

 88

availability of cheap land, potable water supply, proximity to

city, closer to state high ways etc. facilitated high degree

of housing activities and rapid growth of settlements. Even

cooperatives encouraged house building activities in this area.

Another area which was developed in 70s was eastern side of

Ramanathapuram called Thiruvalluvar Nagar. Ramanathapuram was

one of the highly congested areas of the city. The even

increasing density in this area forced the people to move out.

They did not go far away but stayed in the periphery of the
v

Ramanathapuram area.

The eastern side of Puliakulam towards Sowripalayam,

Amman kulam and its ayacut (irrigated area of the tank)' 'were

also come under housing activity. The colonies are EVR Nagar,

MGR Nagar and the like. Only in 1981 these areas came under

the administrative control of the Municipality.

Even now the city is developing in the Northern and

Eastern directions on the Mettupalayam Road, Sakthi Road,

Avanashi Road and Trichy Road. In the western direction, beyond

Selvapuram there is not much development. But towards west

in the other road towards Marudhamalai, the development was

considerable. It is because of the educational institutions

viz., Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and Bharathiar University

and the location of Lord Murugar Temple, an important place of

 819

worship for the Hindus. Towards South there is no development

at all except the Lorry shed located near Ukkadam area. The

periphey of the city in the North and the East is developing

industrially and this industrial development has its influence

over dwelling houses in those localities.

Population in Coimbatore city

Population groups have characteristics which affect

their adjustments. The rate of population growth determines

the competition for space.

When the first systematic census was taken in the year

1881 the population of Coimbatore town was 38,897. In

an
1981, a century later it was 7,68,000,/eighteen fold increase

in the population of the city. In 1891 Coimbatore had a

population of 46,383 with an increase of 19 per cent. In the

subsequent two decades there has been steady increase in the

population. But in the year 1911 the population declined by

6,000 over the previous census count (1901). This works out

to 11.44 per cent decline. Through out the Nation there has

been decline in urban population due to plague and other calamities.

Report of 1911 pointed out that it was impossible to make any

estimate of direct and indirect effect of plague in the growth

of towns but it was quite certain that they have been enormous.

During the decade 1911-21 there was a sudden growth of the

 90 -

population in the town. During the war years cotton textile

from the United Kingdom could not reach India freely resulting

in accelerated growth of spinning and weaving mills. During

this period cotton export to the United Kingdom declined

considerably. The availability of raw materials and accute

demand for cotton textiles in the market facilitated the growth

of textile mills. Coimbatore witnessed the starting of three

textile mills in quick succession. This has influenced rapid

growth of population in Coimbatore. When the National Urban

growth was just 8.27 per cent, Coimbatore had reported almost
five times the National Urban growth (39.95 per cent). This

wa? facilitated by large scale migration of workers to newly

started industries. This has been reflected in the sudden

decline of sex ratio from 1000:1050 (1901) to 1000:970 (1921).

The tempo was kept up in the next decade also which witnessed

44.7 per cent growth. The sex ratio further declined to 930
female per 1000 male.

The decline in the female population was due the

migration of male members from rural areas to the city to get

gainful employment in industries. Many migrants left their

families in the native place while they come to the city for

employment. During the week ends they used to visit the family,
residing at the villages. In these decades only the textile
industries and engineering industries started developing in this
c ity.
 91

The rate of growth of urban population between 1931-41

v

was as much as 31.97 per cent for the entire country. Coimbatore

recorded 36.92 per cent population growth over previous decade.

For the first time with a population of 1,36,348 Coimbatore

became one of the six class I cities of Tamil Nadu and one of

the 47 class I cities of India.

Between 1941-51 Coimbatore recorded as high as 51.75 per

cent population growth. Though the decade recorded a high

urban growth in India (41.43 per cent) the spectacular growth

rate in Coimbatore could be attributed to war efforts. By the

time the ferrous casting industry has developed to an advanced

stage. During the war period transportation became difficult

and flow of cast iron products from North India to South India

dwindled down. Recycling of scrap was attempted. Therefore

in addition to boom to textiles, iron casting also accelerated

industrial activities. These factors naturally were responsible

for very high rate of growth.

Between 1951-61 Coimbatore had an increase of 44.77 per

cent of population growth and the city had as much as 2,86,305

people. During this period over all urban growth for the entire

country was 26.41 per cent only. Compared to the tempo of

growth in previous decade, in Coimbatore, tempo of -growth in

the decade was little less (roughtly 6 per cent). Compared
 92

with the National trend, the percentage of increase is

remarkable. During this period planned development of region

was taken up with major irrigation projects, life irrigation

programmes, Community Development Programmes and the like.

A number of social welfare programmes were launched by the

Government, besides the provisions of public services like

educational services, health services, transport and communi­

cation in rural areas. City had well knit interaction with

regions and a number of specialised services were launched to

cater to the needs of people. In keeping with the over all

trends Coimbatore also provided a number of services to the

region. This has also helped to increase the population.

Between 1961 and 71 the over all urban growth was 37.83
per cent but in Coimbatore it was only 24.47 per cent. During

this period rural industrialization and small town development

programmes were given priority. Agriculture was put on a sound

footing, with high yielding varities and high technology of

agricultural operations which increased rural employment

opportunities. Therefore the impact of push factor on rural

areas was limited in this part of the country. The optimum

accommodation was achieved within the city limit, both for

industrial growth and human settlement. Improvement in the

transport and communication system facilitated faster movement

 93

of industries and people to the periphery. The urban spread

extended outside the urban limit. The immediate neighbourhood

of Coimbatore city such as Kuniyamuthur, Kuruchi, Peelamedu,

Kavandampalayam, Perur, Thudiyalur, etc. had a very high rate

of population growth. Housing colonies developed outside the

city# people residedoutside the urban areas and commuted to

work in the city. All these factors were responsible for

relatively less increase in the population of Coimbatore city.

The total area of Coimbatore city is 23.49 sq. km.

accommodating a population of 3,56,368. The city was divided

into 30 wards, (the political division). The area of the wards

varied from .043 sq. km to 3.495 sq.km. The population in each

ward varied from 1556 in ward twenty six to 36,762 in ward

eight. The mean population per ward was 11878.93 with the

standard deviation of 6402.313. The density of the wards varied

from 4153 per sq. km to 1,22,201.55 per sq.km. The mean area of
the ward was 0.7411 sq.km with the standard deviation of 0,8536

and the mean density was 34,814.97 sq.km with a standard deviation

of 29788.48. Further the shape of the ward was not similar and
did not follow any geometric proportion. In each ward one could

see people of different caste, religion, economy, living together.

Since the wards were not based on any of the criteria viz area,

population, density, contiguous geometrical area, social-cultural

similarity, they served limited purpose only.

v
 94

The population in relation to spatial location is further

analysed taking into account the wards and its population. The

mean city density of population was 15171.05 sq.km. There were

22 wards which had more than mean city density and rest had less

than that. Based on the mean density of wards the population

concentration is classified in 4 categories viz. (1) very high
density wards (more than 35000/sq.km) (2) high density wards

(between 2000 and 35000/sq.km.) (3) low density wards (between

5000 and 20000/sq.km.) (4) very low density wards (less than

5000 per sq.km.). The spatial spread is given in Fig. 3.

There are nine wards which have very high density. All

these wards are around the market place. These areas form

the central business district where the middle class people are

residing in tiled or partially terraced portion houses. Another

eight wards have high density. Out of the eight wards, one

covers the entire area of the market place, four are very near
the central business district, other two are on the outer

boundary of the central business district and one is on

the periphery of the city. The wards 24 and 29 are very close to

the central business district but the concentration is... very

much less than the central business district. The primary

reason is that, the two wards are on the periphery of the city.
The ward 24 included the unhabited water tank and the ward 29
 35,000 PER SO. Km

20,000 PER SQL- Km

> 5 ,0 0 0 PER SO- Km

5,000 PER SQL- Km

WATER TANK
N
A

km
SCALE

FIGURE 3 COIMBATORE CITY POPULATION CONCENTRATION IN DIFFERENT

W ARDS
 95

included a portion of another water tank in the southern

boundary. If areas covered by the water tank is excluded

in the calculating the density, then it w&uld be much higher.

Ward 15 had three institutions (two educational institutions

and one head post office) . A large number of retail trading

centres are also located in this ward. The three boundaries

of the ward are with full of retail trade. Leaving these

three areas, the residential location is much limited. But

for those reasons the density would be still higher. The wards
14, 12 and 10 are adjacent wards where four big industries

are located. Those four industries are the industries located

very near the central business district. There are a few small

industries also seen in these wards. The residents of these

wards are middle income group residing in the tiled hoi^es.

v
The ward five forms a part of two earlier settlements of the

city. The early settlers of this area reside in their

tranditional location due to sentimental reasons and locational

advantages.

There were 11 wards with low density (5000 to 20000/sq.km.).

All the wards are situated away from the central business

district. In these wards, either middle class or upper middle

class reside in individual terraced houses or spatial tiled

houses. The ward three is again a highly a congested area.

Part of it is an industrial zone and another part is a small

water tank. These two things occupy more than half of the

ward area. Only in the remaining area people are living in

lijie tiled houses or it huts. More than one households

reside in most of the houses in this ward. Half of the ward

16 is occupied by the Christian institutions, churches,

schools, hospitals etc, where population is very much ^limited

otherwise the density of these ward will fall in line with the

other wards of the central business district.

Only two wards 6 and 30 have the very low density. The

ward six is the residential area of rich people who live in

independent Spacious houses with open yards, gardens, etc.

The other ward is a vast area with small population. More than
two-third of the area is fertile agricultural land.

The city is receiving a considerable amount of floating

population from the surrounding sub-urban areas like Kuniyamuthur,

Peelamedu, Thuidyalur, Perur, Kurichi, Kovaipudur and other neighte

hourlng areas. The centripedal movement is very high in the

city. Most of the offices of the Government and industrial

establishments are situated within the city limits and so the

inflow is very high further the city is an industrial city, hence

the workers have nto move to attend the work in industries

withing the city, in case they reside outside the city boundaries.
It is the case of the industries located in the periphery of
the city. Since no record is available regarding the

commuters, an estimation has been made, taking the number

of buses playing between the city and the areas outside the

city into account in the peak hours. Since the majority of

the population uses the public transport system for its

movement, the population which uses it, has been taken as

the commuters. It is estimated that 45,000 to 48,000 people

come to the city in the morning and leave it in the evening.

This population includes office goers, merchants, traders,

workers, school going children.

Yet another type is centrifugal movements. When compared

to the centripedal movement, this movement is very much less.

This population comprises of college students and the faculty

members working in educational institutions. In fact only two

arts colleges, one college of education and one polytechnic are

located within the city. All other arts colleges polytechnics,

college of physical education, college of education and all the

five professional colleges are located in the outskirt of the

city. But only a few high schools and higher secondary schools

are situated outside the city boundaries. Hence, a part of

school children come to the city from the suburbs, sfetallite

towns and rural areas. The college students go out of the city
for persuing higher education.
 9B

In the population movement# the lateral movement is

very much limited in the city. People normally prefer to

reside nearer the work place except a few who reside in

Saibabacolony area and Gandhipuram area. These two areas are

completely residential locations and hence the residents have

to travel from these areas to the work place.

Environment

Population exists in a given natural environment# which

includeslocation, climate# natural resources etc.# and the

environment may set ultimate limits to the size and density

of the population.

Profile of Coimbatore city

Latitude :: 11° N
Longitude : : 76° 58' E
Elevation :: 411.58 (above mean sea level)
Climate :: 39 C (Max in summer day)
12° C (Minimum in winternight)

v
Total area :: 23.49* sq.km.

The city is situated on the western part of the Coimbatore

District. The South and South-West are covered by irrigation

tanks and irrigated fertile lands. The North and East sides

are comparatively dry lands. On the West small hills called

*Area of Coimbatore Municipality in 1981

 99

Marudhamalai range are seen about 12 km away from the city

boundary. ‘In South, there is a small water stream called

v

Noyyal, three km away from the city. Major portion of the

city has very good rocky soil for the construction of

buildings. But rest of the area is full of black and clay

soil. Though this soil is unsuitable for the construction of

buildings, it was not at all a barrier for the development of

the city. The Northern boundary of the city is a dry water

stream, calledn Sanganoor Pallam.

The prevailing climate condition is very much suitable

for etextile industry and for healthy living. In summer the

maximum day temperature is 39 C and in winter night the minimum

temperature is 12 C. The humidity rate is very high which is

very much helpful for the manufacturing of yarn. This is an

additional advantage for the development of the textile industry.

The medium temperature tempts the people to stay over here. It

is considered to be the hill-resort of poor people.

Natural resources available in the surroundings, play a

very vital role in the development of the city. The high rate
of moisture, high production of cotton from the black soil, good

amount of rain fall etc., develop the cotton based industry in

the city. The sandy black soil, which is used for 'iron moulding
is available in plenty in the surrounding areas. This has

encouraged the engineering industries and subsidiary industries.

 100

Even though the protected drinking water is not

available to the whole population of the city# one could not

conclude that there is water scarcity through out the year.

Part of the city could not get the required amound of water

in summer. The Greater Siruvani Scheme - 37 km away from the

city would cater to the water needs of the population fully

after its completion. The water available here is one of the

best pure and sweet water available in the world. The water

is supplied through pipes to individual houses, street pipes

or through lorries.

The major portion of the city is covered by under ground

drainage system. The whole system is divided into three zones.

The sewage water is treated and used for cultivation. Besides,

the slope in land itself provides a natural drainage system.

The altitude of the city is almost at a level with a high slope

towards South-East and it makes the under ground drainage quite

plausible. So there is no need to pump out the drainage water.

Coimbatore is well connected with the other cities of

Tamil Nadu State and neighbouring States by road transport,

by railways and by air services. From the city long route

buses are there in all directions connecting various districts,

and neighbouring states. Eight long distance express trains

touch the city everyday besides the passengers trains from

neighbouring towns. Apart from this, there is air transport
 101

flights from the capitals of neighbouring states touching

the city. The former two modes are utilized by majority of

the population and the air transport is used by a few.

The city, has three bus terminuses, one is for long

distance buses, another is for mofussil buses and third is

for the city buses. All these terminuses are located very

close to each other at Gandhipuram. In addition, it has one

railway junction in the southern periphery and another station

at the northern periphery of the city. The aerodrome is located

outside the city limits.

Technology

The city depends on a complex, specialised technology

which make it possible for a considerable proportion of the

papulation to live apart from direct concern with agriculture.

The internal spatial pattern of cities are the creation of

technology, especially the technology of factory and transport.

The clusters-", of industries are given in fig. 4.

Coimbatore is known for its textile industry. The textile .

industry has been the harbinger of industrial growth in this city.

This industry has given a boost to the development of other

industries like engineering, textile machinery manufacturing,

mass production of spare parts, motors, pumpsets, etc. The

textile industry has also been responsible for the promotion of

the manufacture of viscose staple fibre.

FIGURE 4 COIMBATORE CITY - INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ZONES
 102

Another major industry in Coimbatore is the engineering

industry. Coimbatore is an important centre for the pump and

electric motor industry in India. The pump manufacturing

industry has been flourishing since 1924. In fact it is

estimated that more than 40 per cent of motors and pumpsets

of the country are manufactured in Coimbatore. Apart from

these, there are more than 3500 registered small scale industries

and an equal number of unregistered units.

Coimbatore is one of the five major foundry centres of

the country, About 400, out of 450 foundriess in the state are

located in and around Coimbatore. The availability of natural

foundry sand is one of the factors for the development of foundry

industry in this area.

Though many textile mills, ginning factories, engineering

industries are located in the city, they are not concentrated

in one particular area. The oldest textile mill, Stanes Mills,

later renamed as Coimbatore Spinning and Weaving Mills is located

very near the railway station towards the west of the railway line.

Very near this mill two more textile mills viz., Soma Sundra Mill
and Sri Kaleswarar Mills are situated. These two mills are on

the eastern side of the railway line. On the same side behind
these two mills, on Patel Road, medium size foundries and work­
shops of various sizes producing diverse products, are located.

Parallel to the Patel Road workshop line, just behind the CS & W
 103

Mills on Krishnasamy Mudaliar Road, Brook Bond Company, a

processing unit of coffee powder and tea dust is functioning.

Near the junction of Krishnaswamy Mudaliar Road and Mettupalayam

Road Indian Oil Storage tanks, TVS Motor company, Fertilizer and

Chemicals Travancore goodowns, etc have come up. Besides,

these, sheet metal work is also being carried out in this area.

A textile mill is also functioning in this area.

In the junction of Dr. Nanjappa Road and Avanashi Road

near the fly over, two automobile workshops, Cheran Transport

Corporation Branch workshop and UMS workshop are in existance.

A little away, on Dr. Nanjappa Road ABT group of companies,

ABT parcel service, NIA Bus service, N. Mahalingam & Co etc.,

are functioning.

UMS companies, producing Radios, Calculators and other

electronic goods are on Avanashi Road, Fuel pumping stations

dominate this road, since it is a National High way (NH 47)

Three cotton ginning factories, one cargo transport office and

registered offices of four big industries are situated on this

road. Next comes the biggest, modernised and highly sophisti-

cated textile mills namely the Lakshmi Mills Company. In

addition to these, one more textile mills, three more fundries

are on this road at the periphery of the city. Just behind the

Lakshmi Mills on Puliakulam Road, four engineering concerns are

 104

manufacturing motors/ pumpsets, diesel engines, etc. At the

other end of the Puliakulam Road near Ramanathapuram, Pankaja

Mills is located.

On the Southern side of the city on Trichy Road only

three engineering concerns are located. One is the LGB

group of companies second is the Stanes Motors and third is

the Cheran Transport Corporation Branch workshop. All the

three concerns are related to automobile industries.

Industrial Sub-Urb»s

The pressing demand for space due to various factors

V

forces the industrial establishment to seek location outside

the city limits. Of the four directions, three are developing

industrially outside the municipal limits. Kuruchi Industrial

Estate on the road to Pollachi is financed by the Govt, through

Small Scale Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO). In

this area small scale industries are developed manufacturing

i

electrical, electronic and engineering equipments. In contin

nuation of the estate, in large scale industrial units are

also coming up. Since this industrial estate is eight km away

from the city, the workers normally stay near the estate.

Hence an industrial colony has come up near the estate. Towards

the North and the East directions heavy industries have come up,
that too only engineering industries, manufacturing textile
 105

machineries, motors, pumps, diesel engines, steel re-rolling

mills, heavy castings etc. This industrial development in

sub-urban areas may promote residential settlements in the

suburbs in future.

Communication

Communication is one of the fundamental and functional

social processes in any society. The communication channels

are postal, telegraphic, telephone, radio, television etc.

In Coimbatore there are 181 post offices with two Head Post

Offices, 85 sub post offices 94 branches and one mobile post

office. Both the Head Post Offices are situated very near the

central business district. Telephone exchange is situated near

the collectorate. Direct dialing facilities are available from

Coimbatore to most of the important cities in India.

The city has one Radio Broadcasting Station broadcasting

various programmes from morning to late evening for a cross

section of society and one TV relay station. Besides these

governmental machineries for communication, the city has four

vernacular news paper and one English paper published from here.

Two vernacular and the English paper are published in the

mroning and the other two in the evening. The city is getting
all other news papers, magazines etc from other parts of the

Nation. Thus the urban centre is well connected by various

communication channels.
 106

Organisations

The social organisations make the activities of the

people regular and systematic. Without such organisation

only chaos will exist. The social organisation includes

functional division of labour, residential location and

government control over the commercial establishments,

administrative offices, etc. These are meant for organising

the various activities in a systematic way.

Functional Divisions

To the West of the railway line, the central business

district is located. This CBD is located in the junction of

four main roads. One towards the South going to Kerala, the

neighbouring state and to Pollachi, the other one towards East

connecting tTrichy the neighbouring district, the third one

towards West leading to Perur, the famous Temple town and last

one towards North going to Mysore. There are evidences to

state that, the market place was constructed by the Chola King

Karikala in 874 AD. This central market is called Thiagi Kumaran

Market, named after Mr. Kumaran the freedom fighter. It is

located in a square form surrounded by four roads Raja Street

in the North, Karuppa Gounder Street in the West Rangai Gowder

Street in the East and the Big Bazar Street in the South. It

isvthe whole sale market for vegetables, food grains, grocery,

 107

jaggery etc. Along the southern boundary, on the Big Bazar

street most of the jewellery shops are located, where silver,

gold, diamond and other precious stones and ornaments are

sold in whole sale and in retail. Along the eastern boundary,

in RG street, groceries are sold. The agriculturists sell

their produce to the merchants who process and sell them in

retail and in whole sale. The northern boundary, the Raja

street is known for the textile market but majority of the

shops are for retail sales. The Karuppa Gounder Street the

Western boundary of the market is the auction centre for vege­

tables and here most of the godowns are located. Parallel

to Rangai Gowder Street, Oppanakkara Street is situated. This

street is for the Whole sale and retail sales of handloom

sarees and garments. The sarees and garments produced in

Coimbatore are sent through out India for sales. Mostly, the

show rooms and sales offices are located in this street.

Besides some private offices, some banks, retail sales and

service houses for electrical goods are also located in this

street.

On the south-eastern side of the four road junction the

palaya market, the used goods market (Old market) is in

existence, which is adjascent to the Municipal Corporation

Office. Here mostly second hand goods are sold. During the
 108

specific seasons fruits like Jackfruit, Mango, Pineapple etc

are sold in bulk in this area.

There are four more business centres in the city. First

is at R.S. Puram viz., Dhiwan Bhahadur Road towards the North

West of the Kumaran market. The neighbouring areas are

residential areas and so the household materials are sold in

this retail market. Second is at Gandhipuram viz. Dr. Nanjappa

Road and Cross Cut Road (Ponnu Rangam Road). The former one

is a business centre for automobiles, spare parts, tyre and

tubes, insurance companies, movie halls, shop for electric

and electronic equipments, hotels, etc. In the Cross Cut Road,

textile retail shops, small jewelleries, drug stores etc., are

located. At the junction of the two roads all the three bus

terminuses are situated. Hence small hotels, shopping centres,

lodges etc are concentrated in this area to cater to the need

of the floating population.

The third business centre is at North Coimbatore where the

biggest shopping complex, Chinthamani Cooperative Super Market,
is located,. In this market people can buy most of their

requirements under one roof.

The fourth business centre is at Saibaba colony a very

recently developed area. Though it is relatively new, it is

as crowded as the other..three centres. The surrounding areas

 109

are residential areas and so the business centre caters to the

needs of the residents of Saibaba Colony area. This market
sellsjevery thing except jewels, ornaments and similar costly

items.

The municipal authority has control over the development

of the commercial activities and construction of buildings for

such purposes. The traders and business men have to get

permission from the authority to construct and to start business

establishments within the municipal limits, The town planning

department of the municipality has to approve the plan of the

building; the municipal health officer has to approve the

sanitary facilibites in the buildings. All these restrictions

imposed by the government arrest the haphazard unplanned growth

of the city. In addition to this the commercial establishments

have to get perior permission from the Dept, of Commercial Tax,

Government of Tamil Nadu.

To regulate the business, the municipal corporation has

v

recently constructed the commercial complex in the city. Here

the space is given for rent for the commercial establishments.

But this type of municipal shopping complex is new to this city.

Only two such complexes exist today. Pew more are being planned
for the city. The commercial centres are given in-fig. 4.
 110

Residential Areas

Based on extensive field observation, by the researcher

the houses are classified into 4 categories viz., individual

bangalow type, terraced individual houses, tiled houses, and

huts.

The first type of houses are seen only in three place

viz., around race course (not inside the race course where the

Govt has constructed tenements for the Govt employees); Farts

of Avanashi Road the its neighbouring area, near the circuit

house? and ATD colony near the V.O. Chidamparam Pillai Park
(No. 1, 2 and 3 in fig. 5) The residents of these areas are

all rich people.

The second type of the houses are located in RS Puram

West, Sivananda colony, 8th and 9th cross of Gandhipuram, part
of Ramnagar, part of New Siddhapudur and Krishnasamy Nagar and ,

Saibabacolony area (No. 4, 5, 6, 1, 8 and 9 in fig. 5).

The third type of houses are situated in many place

(no.10 to 21) viz., near Kumaran market, Southern part of R.S.

Puram, Thadagam Road, Ramalingam Chettiar colony and neighbouring

areas, Tata bad, Gandhipuram cross street and their extension,

northern part of Ramnagar(Ranganathapuram), Kattoor, Siddhapudur,

Pappanaickenpalayam, part of Puliakulam and along Trichy Road

in Ramanathapuram. To quote Ramesh the low and middle class

FIGURE 5 COIMBATORE CITY. HOUSING PATTERN
 Ill

residential areas are clustered in the former fort area and

the pettai area.^The area where the this type of houses are

seen, are around the textile mills on Mill Road, Kattoor,

Anupparpalayam, Old Pappanaickenpalayam, part of Puliakulam,

whole Ramanathapuram. These areas are considered to be

industrial areas in the city.

v

The fourth type of house, namely huts-mud huts and

thatched huts, are clustered in the vacant space on both sides

of the railway line from the flyover to the city boundary.

In the periphery of the city, in all most all directions, huts

are seen as shown in fig. 5. The dwellers of these huts are

economically very poor and in the lowest rungs of the social

and caste ladder. Since they are poor, they could construct

their huts only with mud, thatched sheets, and the like materials

only in the porampokku land where they need not pay for the land.

Apart from these types, sthere is yet another type called

Government quarters built exclusively for the Government

employees. Most of such quarters are in the race course area.

The other two areas are Tatabad and Cowley Brown Road. Private

apartments and flat system are very new to this city. Only a

few such appartments have come up in Coimbatore city so far.

Government Housing Scheme in Coimbatore

Government is constructing houses for various income groups
 Jp] PARKS
A TEMPLE
6 CHURCH

B MOSQUE
•0- COLLEBES
• SCHOOLS
O THEATRES
Q HOSPITALS
N
A
km
SCALE

X 60VT. OFFICES
(D RAILWAY STATIONS
[D BUS TERMINUS

FIGURE 6 COIMBATORE C IT Y . LOCATION OF SER VIC E FA C ILITIE S A N D IN S T IT U T IO N S

 112

like low income group# middle income group and high income

group. For this purpose the Government constituted two

housing boards viz., Tamil Nadu Housing Board and Slum clearance

Board. Besides, there is one Housing and Urban Development

Corporation. The former two boards construct the houses for

individuals with Government Subsidy and latter one help the

people financially to construct their own houses. Apart from

this, Govt employees get housing quarters. Altogether 7089

families in the city are benefited from all these schemes.

The ratio between total number of families and number of

families covered by the housing schemes is 8:1.

Administrative offices

Most of the offices are situated in the eastern part of

the city (fig. 6). Very near the railway station, collectorate,

offices of the DIG of Police and Superintendent of Police,

Sessions and District Courts, Telephone Exchange and Central

Telegraphic Office are located. Very near to this cluster of

offices, on Dr. Balasundaram Chettiar Road, Regional transport

Office, Sales Tax and Commercial Tax office are situated.

Behind these offices, the central jail is located. The Police

Recruit School is just opposite to these offices.

There is another cluster of offices in the western side

of the city. They are the Municipal Corporation Office, public

v
 113

works departments, Dist. Educational Office and District

Industrial Development Office.

Social-psychological Elements

Individual's likes and dislikes,,prejudices, choices

etc., based on sentiments, influence the character of his

associational life and frequently affect his position in the

community. Preferences, values attitudes and beliefs must be

common to a significant number of individuals who are willing

to act on them in order to qualify as social psychological

elements in human ecology.

The Services

Educational Institutions are scattered through out the

city Three Colleges (Government Arts College, Nirmala College

and Law College and one Polytechnic (GPT for women) are in the

eastern side of the city. Government College of Education is

in the western side of the city near old market and Municipal

Corporation buildings. The other colleges such as Home Science

College, Agricultural University, Forest College, a number of

Arts and Science Colleges. Engineering Colleges, Medical

Colleges and Bharathiar University are located outside the city

limit.

v There are 26 higher secondary schools catering to the

educational needs of the city. With regard to these higher

 114

secondary schools, two clusters of educational institution,

one is around railway station and other is in Avanashi Road

are seen. The cluster near railway station has seven schools

functioning with in a close proximity. The other cluster in

Avanashi Road area have five schools. All other 14 schools

are fairly spread in different parts of the city. Resides

there are 49 elementary schools ifunctioning in the city at
v

different places.

Recreation

Recreational facilities are not concentrated in'”one plcjce.

With in the city limit there are 33 movie halls, screening

films in six language viz., Tamil, Telegu, Kannada, Malayalam,

Hindi and English. Cinema is the main source of recreation

in the city. These halls are equally distributed in the two

segments -16 halls are in eastern segment and 17 halls are in

western segment. Besides there are seven community halls which

are being used for multipurposes like staging dramas, cultural

programmes, music, dances etc. Sometimes these halls are used

for conducting marriage ceremonies. There is a stadium where

sports and games are conducted. This stadium can accommodate

40,000 spectators at a time.
 115

Health Services

The health needs of the people are looked after by the

Government dispensaries, maternity homes and Coimbatore Medical

College Hospital as well as a number of private nurshing homes

apd well organised hospitals. The earliest hospital, started

in 1850, now is attached to Medical College. To cater to the

needs of industrial workers a number of Employees State

Insurance Corporation dispensaries and one hospital are

functioning. This hospital is located outside the city limits.

One cluster of private nurshing homes and hospitals can be

seen in the northern part of R.S. Puram where in as many as

many as seven hospitals, many nurshing homes and maternity

homes are located.

Religious Service

The city is a secular one. Here people professing

different religions are 'living together without any religious

enemity. But they segregate themselves on religion ie. people

of one religious faith cluster together and live in one place.

Majority of them belong to Hinduism, second and third in the

order of magnitude are Muslims and Christians respectively.

The places of workship occupy the most advantageous,

valuable and prestigeous place in human settlements in India.

There is a Tamil proverb 'Do not like where there is no temple'.
 116

People construct temples where^ver they settle down to live

together. Koniamman temple and Sangameshwar temples are

the oldest temples in the city (earlier than 900 AD) located

in Kottai area. In the close proximity there is another

temple of Goddess Dhandu Mariamman on the Avanashi Road. There

is one Perumal temple in Pappanaickenpalayam. Besides these

famous temples numerous small temples are there in the city.

Very near the Koniamman temple and Sangameswarar temples,

Churches and Mosques are also located. Most of the Mosques

near the Kottai area, are belived to have been constructed

by Tippu Sultan. The Chruches are scattered through out the

city. Fig. 6 gives the special location of religious

institutions also.

Ecological Structure

The analysis of land use pattern, location of institutions

and origin, evolution and growth of specific institutions

indicate the pattern of ecological structure operating in

Coimbatore city. The factors like historical origin location,

geographical constrains, political favouratism, have played

their part to bring in the existing pattern of ecological

structure. The present structure is not solely depend on market

forces and ecological processes alone but depends On Royal

patronage, preferential treatment for certain caste and influence

of political power etc., is addition to ecological processes.

 117

Descriptive part of ecological structure is presented

on the basis of consolidated, comparative description of

various functional category. The trade and commerce as a

functional category is taken up for description first. Trade

and commerce are divided into whole sale trade, whole sale

cum retail trade and retail trade specific areas, in which these

activities are concentrated are marked in the land use map

given in fig. 7.
v

Central Business District

As can be seen in fig. 7 the central business district

(CBD) extends approximately over 2.76 sq.km, in area. 'It's

boundaries are, in the East the Gppanakkara Street, in the

South the Vysial Street, in the West the Karuppa Gounder Street

and in the North the Sukrawarpet Road.

The central business district of Coimbatore houses most

of the whole sale activities, regional offices of banks and other

financial institutions. In addition to whole sale trade, a

number of whole sale cum retail trade is also concentrated with

in the CBD. A close look into the central business district

indicates the marked concentration of certain activities in

certain pockets. For instance jaggery mandies are located in

KK Block, provisions shops an the Rangai Gowder Street, hardward

and paints on the Mill Road, Furniture and cycles an the Variety
 118

Hall Road, textiles whole sale and retail trade on the Oppanakkara

Street and gold jewelleries in the Big Bazar Street. In the

other parts of central business district mixed business activities

are carried out.

The retail trade activity is concentrated at five different

places in the city. At Dhiwan Bhahadur Road, towards the

North-West of central business district retail trading

activities in all goods are carried out on both sides of the

entire stretch of this road. Towards North East from the fly

over to Gandhipuram the entire stretch of Dr. Nanjappa Road

and to some extent of Cross cut Road are full of retail shops.

Towards the southern end of Dr. Nanjappa Road and the western

end of Avanashi Road, heavy concentration of retail shops

dealing with electrical goods, automobiles, spares, motors,

pumpsets and hardware are located. The northern end of the

Dr. Nanjappa Road and eastern portion of Cross cut road have

heavy concentration of retail trade specially catering to the

needs of floating population which gathers for the bus trans­

port at the central bus stand and Thiruvalluvar Bus stand.

Concentration of retail shops at North Coimbatore junction,

N3R Iyengar Road, Pappanaickenpalayam and Ramanathapuram is

exclusively to meet the needs of local residents. The spatial

distribution of commercial activity indicates a well marked

'Central Business District' a few clear cut retail out lets in

 119

the residential areas and mixed trading activities to cater

to the needs of floating population at transport nodels.

Industrial Zones

Industrial development in the early period was closer

to then central business district and in the subsequent

years industrial development was on the urban fringe. The

industrial land^use pattern includes a stretch from the northern

end of central business district on both sides of railway

track upto North Coimbatore railway station. Another stretch

is seen on the Mettupalayam road, a state highway beyond North

Coimbatore junction upto the city limit. Further the third

direction in which industrial concentration observed, is an

Avanashi Road the National Highway (NH 47). This again has

two patches, one is close to the central business district

and the second is in the urban fringe. The fourth concentration

is seen on both sides of Trichy Road beyond Coimbatore Medical

College Hospital (Government Hospital) upto Sungam circle.

In the midst of residential areas in the eastern fringe of the

city one textile mills with its workers colony is located.

When a close analysis of the origin growth and development

ofu specific industry is made, a particular pattern reveals itself.

In the early stages of industrialisation the location was

closer to railway junction and railway track very near central

 120

business district. In the second phase of the industrial

growth the importance is shifted from railway track to high

way. Thus, out of five concentrations we notice , four are

on the high ways and one • i.S one both sides of the railway

track closer to the junction. Inspite of market forces

operating to push centrally located industries to the sub

urban and fringe areas, some of them continue to stay in

their early locations. Further expansion and growth are in

the industrial suburbs sufficiently away from the central

business district. The factors of sentimental attachement,

government possession and locational advantage have greater

influence than the market forces in sustaining these few

industries in their original place. No doubt, a number of

individual concerns have been eased out from central business

district to suburban industrial zones, a few sustain to stay,

if not expanded in its traditional location. As explained

earlier all \ are sick mills (near the central business district

viz., Coimbatore Spinning and Weaving Mills, Sri Kaleeshwarar

Mills and Somasundaram Mills) have been taken over by the

Government. Even their present locational disadvantage may

be one of the factors for their sickness. In the process of

taking over, they have been amalgomated with a number of other

units located in suburbs and the combined advantage is now
v
operating to sustain these units in their traditional place.
 121

In the case of Brooke Bond company, which is a Nation wide

concern, many of the processing activities have been taken

away from the present establishment to decentralised centres.

However from the hills semi processed, tea and coffee are

brought to this factory for further processing. For want of

space and cheap labour, packing and forwarding are not done

here. In bulk containers the finished products are sent to

marketing places where new packing is done. The locational

disadvantage of central place is one of the primary reasons

for shifting some of the processing activities.

In the case of units located in the fringe areas of the

city, on both sides of high ways, they continue to enjoy

advantages and further expansion is feasible towards the

suburbs. Thus due to sentimental attachment, by tuging with

concerns in subrubs and shedding some of the expansion programmes

centrally located industries manage to stay much against the

market forces. In the fringe areas of the city industries

continue to enjoy the locational advantages of being nearer to

central business district and close to workers. Industries,

which have been started in sub urban areas have head offices

in central city to compensate the locational disadvantages.

Residential Zones
In Coimbatore city the rich resides in spacious bungalow
type houses with gardens and vacant space around the houses.
v
 122

The upper middle class people reside in independent houses.

By and large the middle class people live in small terraced

buildings or spacious independent tiled houses. Sometimes

the middle class resides in houses of mixed structure

(terraced cum tiled). Invariably lower middle class people

reside in portions of tiled houses or line houses with tile

roofed structure. In most of the houses of lower middel class,

facilities like toilet, bathroom, water supply and court yard •

are common for the use of all housesholds living in one house.

The poor people of the city reside in slums. Slums are

characterised by houses of tached roof, improperly constructed

walls of substandard materials, kutcha flooring etc. In

certain classes of slums the materials used for construction

was pucca and the space is very much limited resulting in slum

liness. Figure 7 . gives the concentration of various types

of houses in different parts of the city.

As could be seen in fig. 7, most of the houses in central

business district and its surrounding areas are either tiled

or a mixture of tiled and terraced. Here and there a few big

houses are seen is central business district where a few rich

merchands reside. They prefer to reside closure to their

business place. Towards the west and the south of central

business district, concentration of slums accommodating a

sizable portion of poor is seen. In the fringe areas towards

 COMMERCIAL
ZONES
INDUSTRIAL
ZONES
@ PARKS

TEMPLE
CHURCH
MOSQUE
C0LLE6ES
SCHOOLS
THEATRES
HOSPITALS
GOVT OFFICES

[ r] r a il w a y
STATIONS
” BUS TERMINUS
 123

South East as well as North, heavy concentration of poor

people residence is seen. The rich people reside in two

zones one towards the North of central business district and

other towards the east of central business district. The

upper middle class is concentrated in Ramnagar, Siddhapudur,

Gandhipuram, Saibabacolony and parts of R.S. Purarn, All these

are located towards the North of central business district.

When ecological theories are applied to the spatial

distribution in Coimbatore city. Multiple Nuclai theory

finds no applicability, in the absence of more than one

business nucleus.

When the concentric zone theory is applied, immediately

following the central business district transition zone is

expected. In Coimbatore city transition zone in different

stages is seen towards the South and the South West of central

business district. In the case of the East almost closer to

central business district the cultural zone and residence of

rich people areas are located. Towards the North East of

central business district industries are seen. In the next

stage middle class residential areas are expected. In Coimbatore,

middle class residential areas are well marked in the North,

North-East and the East of central business district. In the

West and the South West the natural barriers of irrigation tanks
 124

are seen. In the South and the South-East followed by water

tanks there is fertile agricultural land. Thus the transition

zone and middle class residential zone are incomplete.

Industrial spread is complete from central business district

to fringe, starting from the North-East direction treching to

the urban frige in the North. Towards the North-East and East

two zones of industrial concentration are seen. Tockets of

residential area intervene between the industrial zones. The

low class residential areas are concentrated in the South and

the West of central business district and jump over the frige

areas in other directions. Since distinct urban land uses is

not exactly in the form of concentric zones and many land uses
are in small-small blocks jumping over one another, for land

use pattern the applicability concentric zone theory is

doubtful. Even if we consider absence of the concentric zone

in certain pockets to geographical limitations the split blocks

of particular land uses could not be meaningfully explained.

When close observation of land use pattern is made each

specialised land use forms a block. Some land uses have more

than one over block at different parts of the city. Quite a few

blocks cut across other land use blocks, certain blocks like

industrial use, extend from the central business district to

fringe in one stretch as a block. If each one of these blocks
 125

are considered roughly equal to the sectors explained by

Homer Hoyt the 'Sector theory' of urban growth comes very

nearer in explaining the ecological pattern of Coimbatore city.

Therefore it is concluded that internal ecological structure

of Coimbatore city fits with the 'Sector Theory' of urban

ecology propound by Homer Hoyt.

v
REFERENCES

1. Amos Ha*ley 1981. Urban Society Quoted in Ivan Light.

1983. CITIES IN WORLD PERSPECTIVE. Newyork: Macmillan
Publishing Co., Inc., p. 242.

2. Noel. P. Gist and Sylvia F. Fava. 1964. URBAN SOCIETY.

Newyork: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, p. 96.

3. Ibid., p. 97.

4. A. Bopegame. 1957. DELHI : A STUDY IN URBAN SOCIOLOGY.

Bombay: University of Bombay.

5. Jay A. Weinstein. 1974. MADRAS : AN ANALYSIS OF URBAN

ECOLOGICAL STRUCTURE. California: Sage Publications.

6. M. Lakshmana Singh. 1972. A Sociological Study of Madurai

City. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, Mysore University.

7. A. Chacko. 1972. Socio-Ecological Study of Trivandrum,

Unpublished Doctoral dissertation, Mysore University.

8* G. Viswanathan. 1977. Ecological Structure of Hyderabad :

A Study in Comparative urban Ecology. INDIAN JOURNAL OF
SOCIAL WORK. 38.

9. R.L.Singh. 1955. A STUDY OF URBAN GEOGRAPHY. BanaraB:

Nand Kishore.

10. C. Ramachandran Chettiar. 1954. Coimbatore : Its past and

present. SILVER JUBILEE SOUVENIR. Coimbatore: Indian
Champer of commerce, p. 3.

11. Ibid., p. 4.

12. Ibid., p. 3.
V

13. F.A.Nicholson. 1898. MANUAL OF COIMBATORE DISTRICT.

Vol. II.

14. C. Ramachandran Chettiar, Op.cit.. p. 6.

15. Ibid.. p. 8.

16. Buccan. Quoted in C. Ramachandran Chettiar. 1954.

Coimbatore : Its part and present. SILVER JUBILEE
CONVENIR. Coimbatore : Indian Champer of Commerce, p. 7.