Date:25/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/08/25/stories/2004082501151900.htm

Siruthuli plans Rs 25-cr project to save Noyyal river

R.Y. Narayanan

Coimbatore , Aug. 24

A RS 25-crore project to revive the Noyyal river, which runs for about 160 km from Coimbatore to Karur district, where it merges with the Cauvery, has been drawn up by Siruthuli.

As part its fund-raising efforts, Siruthuli will organise a dance drama, Silappadhikaram, by the Chennai-based Cleveland Cultural Alliance, in the city on Sunday.

Already, the organisation has spent Rs 1.7 crore on improving Coimbatore's water sources.

According to Ms Vanitha Mohan, Executive Director, Pricol Ltd, and Managing Trustee of Siruthuli, the Noyyal has been used as a dumping ground for toxic urban wastes. Even if the river cannot be restored to its former glory, the wastes should be contained to at least the permissible limits so as to convey water to the tanks in its system.

The first phase of the Siruthuli project, estimated to cost about Rs 5 crore, the 40-km stretch of the Noyyal up to Coimbatore city is proposed to be taken up.

Ms Mohan said that though the region received plentiful rain recently, there were no measures to harvest it. Siruthuli proposes to construct checkdams to store the rainwater, river lining, de-weed, repair and standardise18 tanks.