Coimbatore District Collector, T.N. Hariharan today released a booklet on the process of rehabilitating the Kousika river in a meeting that was chaired at the Collectorate,today.
Briefing on the project, District Collector said 'Bhavani, Amaravathy, Noyyal and Kousika are the predominant rivers in Coimbatore. They have proved to be the crucial source of water for drinking and agriculture for decades together. Along their beds, flourished agriculture and living, since ages. In the recent days, the encroachments and dumping of wastes along the river beds have deteriorated the pristine conditions of the rivers affecting adversely it's water holding capacities.
Kousika river is one such river will is now totally unusable due to lack of adequate rains and encroachments. The river stretches from Kurudimalai in the western ghats and amalgamates with the Noyyal river at Aandipalayam in Tirupur district. The river travels a distance of 49.8kms in total. Presently, the river bears a pathetic look, the basins are filled with garbage and throughout the stretch.
Farmers who were dependent on the river for agriculture are now rendered without jobs due to unavailability of water. The average rainfall in the catchment areas of the river is 565mm. If the water from the river is saved and efficiently managed, the river can quench the farming and drinking water needs of the adjoining areas. The government engineering department of the city has proposed an estimate for Rs.87 crores to rejuvenate the life of the lost river. If the project is approved, in a span of two years the needful can be accomplished.
Metal work, Check dams of various sizes, rainwater harvesting structures, artificial water enrichment plants, treatment plants, waste removal and slopes to strengthen and heighten the river bank, planting trees on the river bank, strengthening the already available check dams in the the catchment area, flattening the land, to kick-start agricultural activities, construction of walls to prevent landslide, clearing the waterways, installing solar motor pumps, training of farmers and volunteers on river water management and conducting tours for practical exposure in water management, construction of waste water management facilities in villages are the things that will be implemented as apart of the 87 crore project.
Through these efforts the river can be brought back to life along with the lost agriculture along it's basins. Once agriculture flourishes, migration of labourers can be contained, overall will uplift the livelihood of the farmers.
District Revenue Officer, Christuraj, Joint Director of agricultural department, Mohanraju Samuel, President of District central cooperative bank, Sakthivel, Revenue Thasildar, Mathuranthaki and othergovernment officials participated in this meeting.