Funds awaited for desilting channels and tanks

he 180 km-long river and 92-km distribution channels and 31 tanks under the Noyyal river basin that badly requires repairs and renovation await funds, especially with South-West monsoon two months away.

The Corporation, which has taken some of the tanks such as Narasampathy, Selvampathy, Krishnampathy, Kolrampathy, Kumarasamy Kulam, Selva Chinthamani Kulam, Ukkadam, Valankulam and Singanallur on a 99-year lease in 2009 is waiting for funds. 

It was planning to repair and revive these tanks at a cost of Rs. 200 crore and turn them into bird sanctuaries and recreation spots. 

Under the National Lake Conservation Project (NLCP), the Water Resource Organisation (WRO) of the Public Works Department (PWD) has planned repairs of eight tanks in 12 to 18 months at Rs. 100 crore. Works will include de-silting 31.8 km channels and help irrigate about 2,248 hectares. The tanks will include Perur, Kuniamuthur, Kurichi, Vellalore, and Odderpalayam. The Detailed Project Report is under preparation and is likely to be submitted by May. 

Meanwhile, WRO has mooted a proposal for desilting 92 km of the channels and 23 tanks under the Noyyal river system besides strengthening their bunds. Officials anticipate the sanction to come any time, so that the works could be completed before May-end.

Nanjundapuram STP issue: civic body confident of resuming work

The one-step-forward-two-step-backward phenomenon has hit again the Coimbatore Corporation in the Nanjundapuram Sewage Treatment Plant issue. On Tuesday last, the National Green Tribunal’s southern Bench restrained the civic body from resuming the STP work. The Mayflower Sakthi Gardens Owners’ Association, the petitioners, contended that the STP’s location does not confirm to the criterion the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has laid. The STP site should at least be 500 m away from the residential area.

It was only on March 18 that the Corporation moved a resolution before the Council seeking the elected body’s approval to resume the STP construction. It said that a delay of 42 months has forced the Corporation to cough out an additional Rs. 17.50 crore. It said that the Corporation issued work order in May 2008 to Hindustan Dorr Oliver Ltd., a Mumbai-based company, to start construction of the STP with a capacity to treat 40 million litres a day at the Nanjundapuram site. By April 28, 2009 the work had come to a halt as the residents of the area moved a court, opposing the construction of the STP.

After 42 months, in October 2012, the TNPCB gave the Corporation consent to establish order on the conditions that the civic body will shift the C-Tech Basin away from the residential buildings, increase the height of the compound, install odour mitigation system and increase the diesel generator capacity from 750 kVA to 1,250 kVA. The Board also asked the Corporation to put in place a mechanism whereby it will be easy for the environment engineers at the TNPCB office in Chennai to monitor the functioning and maintenance of the STP on a real-time basis.

The Corporation sent the proposal to the office of the Chief Engineer at the office of the Commissioner for Municipal Administration, who, suggested a few changes and added that the Corporation could go ahead with the proposal provided it bore the cost from its general fund. The Corporation took the proposal to the Council, which waved the green flag.

Sources in the civic body say that they are not worried as the Corporation is confident of getting the stay vacated. The civic body will highlight to the Bench that the Corporation pumped its untreated waste at the very site and now has chosen to treat the waste and pump it to River Noyyal. The site has been a sewage farm for over for over 30 years. The sources point out that at the time of granting approval for the housing project, the residents of which are now opposing the STP, the Corporation has said that the sewage farm was nearby and that the project promoters were building the same at their risk knowing fully well the consequences. The sources add that the civic body has facts on its side to fight the case and resume the work at the earliest.

Accent on need to prevent pollution of River Noyyal

Neer Naadi,’ a programme organised by five green non-governmental organisations here on Friday to mark the World Water Day.During the event, the results of a study on water quality undertaken by non-governmental organisations and students of Nehru College of Arts and Science in 83 of the 100 wards that comprise the Coimbatore Corporation were presented.Samples were tested for total dissolved solids (TDS), besides calcium, fluoride and nitrate that might come from pesticides or fertilizers.While the permissible level for TDS was 200 milligrams/litre (mg/l), many wards had as high as 9,000 mg/l. The lowest level recorded was 24 mg/l.

The permissible upper limit for fluoride in drinking water was 1.5 mg/litre. Only in 35 wards were fluoride levels under this norm. While in 19 wards the levels were high, three wards were found to have dangerously high levels of fluoride.To reverse this decline in water quality, the study suggested that Noyyal River should be safeguarded by preventing discharge of industrial effluents and sewage. Further, fresh water sources must also be protected from pollution.

The NGOs were planning further studies on water resources in the district with long-term periodic survey to monitor the water levels across the seasons.Remote sensing data on wetlands and water resource would also be compiled. Establishing a mechanism comprising NGOs and Government institutions to monitor human-made changes to water sources was also being contemplated. A video documentary — ‘Save Noyyal’ — was screened and a booklet ‘Noyyal — The lifeline of Coimbatore’ was also released. Prizes were also given to winners of various contests held to mark the World Water Day.