Eco –
Forums in Schools and Colleges
Education and awareness amongst
school and college students has always been a priority
in all the activities of Siruthuli. Most
schools now recognize the need for some restructuring
of both the content and methodology of teaching.
To impart eco-awareness amongst the students Siruthuli
took the initiative to start eco-forums in schools and
colleges during 2005. So far 23 schools and 3 colleges
have commenced work under Siruthuli’s
eco forum banner in the areas of afforestation and water
harvesting.
Restoration of Noyyal River
The River Noyyal was once home of
the Noyyal Valley civilization. Down the ages, it
gained prominence both as a life-sustaining gift and as one
of the holiest rivers in this region. The Noyyal River
today is a chocked, encroached and polluted rivulet
that struggles and pushes its way amidst effluents and
toxins. In addition to this, dumping of garbage also
plays a major role in obstructing its flow.
Restoration of Noyyal River is an ambitious
endeavor by Siruthuli that will work
towards reclaiming the abundance of nature and water
that once thrived on our land. This project is a joint
endeavor of Siruthuli and the Government
with the expertise advice and technical guidance from
Action for Food Production (AFPRO), New Delhi, Dr.R.K.Sivanappan,
Centre for Agricultural & Rural Development and
Environmental Studies and a Technical Team formed by
Siruthuli
The entire Noyyal Restoration task for 160 kms from
the origin in the Western Ghats to river cauvery in
Karur District will be executed in three phases. The
first phase of restoration will focus on a 40 km stretch
from Western Ghats upto Singanallur tank. The total
budgeted estimate for 3 phases put together amounts
to Rs.25 crores. The estimated cost to accomplish the
first phase of activities is about Rs.10 crores.
Siruthuli is taking
efforts to mobilize the required funds from all sources
like Public contribution, Corporate, State Government,
Central Government and from foreign funding agencies.
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 sure
reality.
Afforestation
To make the city green, Siruthuli
has taken up large-scale afforestation programmes by
establishing Siruthuli Tree Parks to
raise various tree saplings Siruthuli
has raised more than 30 varieties of saplings and planted
saplings on the de-silted tank bunds. Saplings are also
distributed free of cost to schools, Corporate and
service organizations to come forward to plant the saplings
and nurture them.
Afforestation –Pasumai
Payanam
In order to increase the quantum of rainfall and reduce the
impact of pollution on the city, Siruthuli
has launched an ambitious project of planting 15 lakh
trees in and around the Greater Coimbatore region. During
the last three years Siruthuli has
planted more than 150000 saplings and is maintaining
it with proper protection and care.
Launch of “Pasumai Payanam”
The President of India, His Excellency Dr.A.P.J.Abdul
Kalam inaugurated Siruthuli’s
“Pasumai Payanam" – the urban afforestation
drive on 6th July 2005.
The President planted “Pachai Naayagi” the
tree of Coimbatore to symbolically start off the urban
afforestation initiative of Siruthuli.
Roadside and open space rainwater
harvesting
A Geo-hydrological study was conducted to assess the
feasibility of constructing rainwater - harvesting structures
towards enabling recharge of excess runoff rain water
from Roads / Streets of entire Coimbatore Corporation
area. It was observed that during rainy seasons it causes
stand still of traffic and break down of vehicles, traumatizing
the normal life of communities at many locations in
the city. Hence Siruthuli has decided
to tackle the problem with a dual-purpose of giving
relief to public communities of road as well as beneficially
use the excess runoff for recharging ground water, to
raise the ground water table.
This is an innovative initiative to harness the storm-water
marooning the low-lying areas in Coimbatore and to recharge
the groundwater through recharge / borewell pits. With
the help of the Coimbatore Corporation, so far 150 recharge
bore wells have been sunk and 30 recharge pits and percolation
/ filter chambers were constructed for the rainwater
harvesting structures. The past two rains have proved
the efficacy of these pits in preventing flooding, water
stagnation and recharging ground water.
Solid waste management - waste to wealth
Siruthuli has taken
up Solid waste management programme at Sri Kamadhenu
nagar, Avarampalayam Coimbatore as pilot project. Siruthuli
has initiated the residents of Sri Kamadhenu nagar welfare
association to start the source segregation of bio-degradable
waste and non-biodegradable waste and encourage the
residents to make a composite yard for bio-degradable
waste.
A proposal has been given to the Coimbatore
Corporation to set up a model sewage water treatment
plant at Valankulam to treat about 3 million liters
of sewage water per day. This is with the association
of CO – INDIA (Coimbatore Industrial Infrastructure
Association). The same will be replicated in the other
parts of the city to purify the sewage water and use
it for not only non-potable purposes but also for recharging
aquifers.
As enumerated in the Master Plan, in
order to achieve plantation of 1.5 million trees,
"Siruthuli Tree Parks" have been established
to raise saplings, which are native to the terrain.
Constant meetings and interactions are held
with the Residents' Associations and Corporation Counselors
regarding disposal of garbage. Simultaneously talks are on
with various Treatment experts / agencies for establishing
bio-compost units.
Landfill for accumulated un-segregated waste of Coimbatore Corporation
The estimated accumulated un-segregated garbage dumped over the years in different locations of the
Coimbatore Corporation is about 3,00,000 MT. This large quantity of un-segregated waste dumped in vast
areas has to be cleared to make use of the available precious space. Land filling is suggested for the accumulated waste of 3,00,000 MT.
As per the guidelines given by the Municipal Solid waste Rules 2000, the landfill site evaluation was carried out by Siruthuli to
select the best site for disposal amongst the available sites in and around Coimbatore City. There are many abandoned deep
quarries available in Southern side of Coimbatore city near Madukkarai and Chettipalayam Roads.
Out of 8 abandoned quarries evaluated, the following 3 quarries meet out the requirements with protective measures against ground water,
surface water, wind blown litter, bad odors, fire hazards, bird menace, pests or rodents, slope instability and erosion.
1. Chettipalayam Road (near Marappalam) in Madukkarai
2. Northern side of Chettipalayam road near Marapallam (adjacent to the first Site)
3. Podanur Chettipalayam Road to Eachanari Road.
The first and the second abandoned quarries capacity is about 20,45,000 M3. If we assume the density of waste as 1000
kgs/m3, we can dump 20,45,000 M.T of garbage in these abandoned quarries alone.
We are expecting sanction from the Coimbatore Corporation for implementing the above said landfill activities.
|
