Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Yatra planned to save Noyyal

Special Correspondent

It will begin from Kooduthurai, the source of the river, on October 2

CHENNAI: Over 2,000 years ago, a civilisation is said to have flourished along the banks of the Noyyal river, which begins in the Western Ghats, runs through Coimbatore and joins the Cauvery river at Noyyal.

Archaeologists have dug up evidence to prove that the region had rich trade and commerce links with the Romans.

Today, effluents flow into the river, already clogged with sewage. Some of its tanks are unclean, their bunds broken and basin encroached on.

However, the Noyyal is fortunate: it has a group of citizens, living on either side of its sullied waters, who are passionate about cleaning it up. Siruthuli, a voluntary initiative by Coimbatoreans - started as a corporate social responsibility wing of some industrial houses in the city - aims at reviving the city's glory and heritage, including its water resources.

Siruthuli - as a run up to the eventual cleaning of the Noyyal - began desilting tanks in and around Coimbatore city, and has completed work in nine of the 18 artificial tanks.

It has planned a `Noyyal Yatra' on October 2, when concerned citizens of the city will walk from Kooduthurai, the source of the river and along 31 km of its progress through the city.

Mohan Shankar, chairman of the Noyyal Yathra Committee, said the aim was to get citizens from all walks of life, interested and concerned about the fate of the river.

It will also be a part of raising awareness of the gross abuse of the river - pollution of the waters, letting in industrial effluents and sewage, dumping garbage along the sluice gates, encroachments and breaking of the tank bunds.

M. Ramakrishnan, coordinator, Siruthuli, said satellite images clearly showed the water drop path and the possibility of water flowing through the Noyyal into the city and beyond.

Rs. 5-crore project

Rajesh Govindarajulu, apex committee member, Siruthuli, explained that the overall estimate of the project is about Rs. 5 crores, which included expenditure on repairs, desilting, restoration of tributaries, de-weeding and clearing the beds. Siruthuli, whose primary sponsors include the Bannari Amman Group of companies, Pricol, LMW group of companies and Elgi group of companies, hopes to raise the money through donations.

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