Farmers’ association moots integrated restoration of Noyyal river basin in a representation to Centre

The Tamilaga Noyyal Vivasayigal Pathukappu Sangam has submitted a proposal for integrated restoration of the Noyyal river basin to the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

A tributary of the Cauvery, the Noyyal river flowing through Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode and Karur districts has to be restored through revival of the interconnected 32-tank system constructed during the Chola period, Chief Coordinator of the farmers’ association K.S. Thiruganasamanthan said.

The river that once served as a critical resource for irrigation, drinking water, groundwater recharge and ecological stability, has been polluted. Irregular monsoons and reduced perennial rainfall have weakened the natural recharge of the basin, necessitating enhanced rainwater capture and lake storage systems, Mr. Thiruganasamanthan said in the petition.

Rapid urbanisation in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts has resulted in the discharge of untreated domestic sewage into the stormwater drains. Inadequate sewerage networks and underperforming centralised STPs have led to the continuous flow of untreated wastewater into lakes and finally the river.

The water from the river originating in the Vellingiri hills feeds major tanks in Coimbatore city: Periyakulam, Ukkadam, Valankulam, Selvampathy, Kurichi and Singanallur tanks, and fulfils agricultural requirements in the fertile Sulur basin where paddy and sugarcane crops are raised.

In Tiruppur city where cotton was grown once, the river is further polluted heavily due to the discharge of untreated effluent by dyeing and bleaching units.

The Orathupalayam Dam built in 1992 is heavily polluted by industrial waste, and downstream farmers are suffering due to severe soil and crop damage.

While restoration efforts started from 2010 through initiatives of NGOs and intervention by courts, the riverbeds, lake beds and wetlands are occupied by buildings and roads. Silt build-up has reduced storage capacity drastically, the petition said making a case for integrated restoration.