There are stories about the Noyyal, experiences, and a lot of information that the residents of villages along the Noyyal have to share with others. Stakeholders in Coimbatore, Tirupur, and Erode and Karur Districts will jointly take efforts to restore the river through the Noyyalai Nokki initiative.
The response from the public so far to the Noyyalai Nokki initiative, to be launched here on March 26, had been encouraging, said Vanitha Mohan, Managing Trustee of Siruthuli.
She told presspersons here on Friday that Siruthuli had so far restored seven tanks that get water from the Noyyal and the storage capacity of these tanks is 230 million cubic feet. A topographical survey of the Noyyal was conducted five years ago, jointly with the Public Works Department. The restoration project now includes installation of decentralised sewage treatment plants, developing parks where space is available and laying walking paths along the river.
The Noyyal originates in the Western Ghats and passes through Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Karur to join the Cauvery at Noyyal village (total of 160 km).
The Noyyalai Nokki initiative will involve educational institutions, businesses, the public and the Government.
Ahill S. Rathinasamy of Jeeva Nadhi Noyyal (Tirupur) said that World Water Day celebrations in Tirupur will be held on March 25 and a road developed by the Knitcloth Manufacturers’ Association, along the Noyyal, will be inaugurated. Efforts have already been taken in Tirupur to lay roads, by industrial and voluntary organisations, for 16 km along the banks of the Noyyal within the Corporation limits of Tirupur. School students will create awareness about the river through several programmes.
D. Venkateswaran of Olirum Erodu said that after the floods in Chennai there is more awareness about the need to remove encroachments on water bodies.
Sudhakar of Noyyal Kaappom (Karur) said the project will benefit all the four districts and it will be implemented on divide-distribute-develop model. “We are in talks with students, banks, Corporates and the exporters in Karur regarding the initiative.”
C.R. Swaminathan, chairman of Noyyal River Restoration Federation, added that sponsors for the project would be approached after completing a survey of the river and finalising the estimate. Norfed will be the nodal organisation for the project and a common plan will be developed for the entire stretch of the river.