Noyyal restoration work commences

Coimbatore: The multi-crore project to restore and rejuvenate river Noyyal commenced at Chithiraichavadi check dam, Perur ghat and Irugur Pirivu on Friday.
The Rs 230 crore project, which involves an array of works including desilting and widening the river to its original span, reinforcing bunds, strengthening check dams along the course and building new ones wherever necessary, is expected to be completed in a year.
“I request all officials to work with dedication to complete the works satisfactorily in a year,” said municipal administration minister S P Velumani after inaugurating the work at Chithiraichavadi in the presence of deputy speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman and Coimbatore collector K Rajamani.
Though the project was inaugurated by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami through video conferencing last week, the work commenced on Friday with dredging of Noyyal bed.
The government will take steps to prevent discharge of sewage into the river, Velumani said and urged the district administration and local bodies to ensure that the river is not polluted.
A committee is being formed to supervise the Noyyal rejuvenation project, the minister said. “It will comprise officials from the public works department (water resources), revenue and local bodies. In addition to them, representatives of NGOs and farmers association functionaries will be present in the panel. They will closely watch the restoration work and suggest measures for improvement,” he said.
Out of the 230 crore fund, Rs 174 crore will be spent in Coimbatore district, on the 72-kilometre course of the river. Damaged portions of 18 out of the 21 check dams will be repaired and faulty sluice gates will be repaired. “Inlet and outlet channels will be desilted, bushes cleared and retaining walls will be built,” Velumani added.