Noyyal river to undergo Rs 230cr restoration drive

Coimbatore: Public Works Department (PWD) officials on Saturday said the restoration work of the Noyyal river would start by March-end or April first week. While the state government has already allotted Rs 230 crore for the project, the PWD has completed the tender procedure. It is likely to announce the contractor details soon.
The Noyyal originates in the Western Ghats in the district and flows through Tirupur, Erode and Karur districts, before confluencing with the Cauvery in Karur. A seasonal river, it usually swells during the northeast and southwest monsoons.
The Noyyal river basin is 158.35km long and there are 18 anaicuts, most of which are in a dilapidated condition. It covers 25 tanks in Coimbatore and six in Tirupur. While the city corporation maintains nine tanks, the remaining tanks are the responsibility of PWD.
PWD officials have already prepared a detailed proposal to strengthen the bund of 22 tanks and surplus weir, and repair sluice gates and supply channel. They would also desilt 18 anaicuts and restore them, besides constructing retaining walls and clearing vegetation from the bunds and river.
The officials had sent the proposal to the state government, which announced Rs 230 crore for the project in the budget session on February 14, 2020. According to the officials, open tenders were invited last month to implement the project. “Many companies have participated in the tender. We will finalize the tender soon and start the restoration work by March-end or the first week of April,” an official said.