Noyyal River Restoration
Restoration of Noyyal River is an ambitious endeavor by Siruthuli that will work towards reclaiming and restoring the abundance of nature and water that once thrived on our land.
The restoration work is being planned to execute in three phases viz.,
- Phase 1: Restoration between Starting Point and Singanallur – 40 kms.
- Phase 2: Restoration between Singanallur to Orathupalayam Dam - 78 kms
- Phase 3: Restoration between Orathupalayam Dam to River Cauvery - 37 kms
A detailed Project Proposal has been prepared by the officials of Public Works Department and Water Research Organisation, for the restoration of the entire river. The main components of the project includes:
- Surveying and fixing boundary stones
- Removal of encroachments
- Resoration of River Noyyal and forming inspection tracks
- Construction of utility steps, bathing ghats, retaining walls and ramps
- Construction of river bed erosion control structures
- Construction of causeways
- Provision of standardisation of anicuts, head sluices
- Construction of retaining walls and improvement to upstream and downstream of Athupalam of Noyyal River
- Waste water treatment plants using DEWATS Technology in 10 locations along the river
- Provision of hydraulic sign boards and information boards
Phase 1 - Activities carried out till date
Now the Noyyal River is almost dead – there is no water and even if there is water it is polluted. Both the banks of the river for the entire 160 kms have been invariably encroached by farmers in the rural areas and individual residents in the urban areas. As per the directions of the District Administration, these encroachments removal work has commenced from Solaipadugai [i.e. from 0 kms] from 28th Dec 2005 onwards and is progressing well. During the years 2005-2006, major works were executed with regard to encroachment removal along the banks of River Noyyal. Siruthuli along with the PWD and District Revenue Department executed the project of removing the encroachments. Agricultural encroachments for the first 32 kms of River Noyyal, i.e from Solaipadugai to Irugur Anicut have been removed. Jungles and bushes were cleared and the necessary boundary stones were laid and peripheral bunds were formed at vulnerable reaches along the newly demarcated boundary lines of the River Noyyal.
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Once the Noyyal basin's biosphere is restored, besides solving Coimbatore's drinking water problem, the revival of agriculture and allied activities can also become a reality. Although the task we have taken on is a mammoth one, we believe that with SIRUTHULI having become a people's movement within a short span of time, we will be able to achieve our objective of a "CLEAN & GREEN KOVAI" in the not too distant future.