COIMBATORE: Social activist and Gandhian Anna Hazare will launch an initiative in four districts of Tamil Nadu on March 26 to restore Noyyal river, the lifeline of Kongu region to its pristine glory.
The 160-km long river was once fed by 34 streams all through the year thus making it a perennial river but with the passage of time, neglect and mismanagement have almost led to its disappearance from the landscape, Vanitha Mohan, Executive Trustee of Siruthuli, one of the four NGOs involved in the project, told reporters here today.
Siruthuli has formed Noyyal River Restoration Federation (NORFED) for the purpose.
Vanitha attributed the reasons for such a pathetic situation of the river to encroachments, silting up and conversion of streams into cart tracks, thereby preventing water from the adjoining hill reaching the river.
She further said Hazare would be in the city to launch their initiative.
NORFED, which include NGOs of Jeeva Nadh Noyyal from Tirupur, Oliru Erodu from Erode and Noyyal Kappom from Karur, has come up with the project for the holistic restoration, development and maintenance of the river, C R Swaminathan, its Chairman said.
Noyyal originates in the Western Ghats and flows through the districts of Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Karur to join the Cauvery near Kodumudi at a village called Noyyal.