Will TN Farmers and Activists Succeed in Reviving the Noyyal River?

Chennai, July 7 (NationPress) Farmers and social activists from Tiruppur and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu are preparing for an indefinite protest aimed at the revitalization of the Noyyal River, which has been described as being reduced to a mere drain due to rampant pollution.

The protest is set to commence on July 13 in Mangalam, urging the Stalin government to take swift actions to curb the inflow of untreated sewage, industrial waste, and plastics into the river. K.N. Mohammed Ali, a prominent social activist, emphasized that the Noyyal, which originates in the Western Ghats and traverses through Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Erode before merging with the Cauvery at Karur, has experienced a drastic decline in water quality over the last three decades.

“Once a pristine and lively river, the Noyyal is now suffocated with sewage and debris. The government’s negligence has contributed to this crisis. Local authorities are dumping everything from meat and medical waste to household refuse directly into the river, particularly in areas like Mangalam,” he stated.

He further remarked that pollution initiates in Coimbatore and worsens downstream in Tiruppur, rendering the river water unsuitable for any use. “The water emits a horrible odor. Farmers who rely on the Noyyal for irrigation are in distress. We will initiate a hunger strike in Mangalam on July 13 as a form of protest. Should no action be taken, this will escalate into an indefinite agitation,” he warned.

K.S. Thirugnanasampandan, Chief Coordinator of the Noyyal Farmers’ Protection Association, supported these claims. “While pollution in the Noyyal may seem commonplace to some, for us, it is a struggle for survival. Untreated sewage from factories, hospitals, and residential areas is being discharged directly into the river. Plastic waste, chemical sludge, and water hyacinths have overrun extensive sections of the waterway, impacting both surface and groundwater,” he explained.

He added that despite persistently petitioning the government for the last five years, no significant measures have been taken. “We are compelled to resort to protest. The Chief Minister should visit Tiruppur to witness the river’s condition firsthand. Immediate directives must be issued to halt the release of untreated waste into the Noyyal,” he stated.

Meanwhile, a senior representative from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in Tiruppur indicated that measures are in progress to tackle the issue. “Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are being established at four distinct sites in Tiruppur. Three of these STPs will have a treatment capacity of 2 million liters per day (MLD) each, while the fourth will have a capacity of 3 MLD. Additionally, a 26 MLD STP is under construction in Andipalayam,” the official mentioned.

“These initiatives are set to be implemented soon. Once operational, they are expected to significantly mitigate the influx of untreated sewage into the river,” he added. However, activists and farmers remain skeptical, asserting that only immediate, consistent, and monitored action by the state government can restore the Noyyal to its former state.