Coimbatore, Aug 4 (IANS) Despite receiving clearance from the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, proposed sewage treatment plants (STPs) aimed at preventing pollution of the Noyyal River have made little progress, leaving nine town panchayats in Coimbatore district continuing to discharge untreated wastewater into the river.

The STP project was approved in 2024 under the Nadanthai Vaazhi Cauvery scheme to address sewage pollution from Irugur, Sulur, Kannampalayam, Vellalore, Perur, Pooluvapatti, Veerapandi, Alandurai and Thondamuthur.

The initiative envisages collecting and treating sewage generated by these local bodies before it reaches the Noyyal.

The project is considered crucial to improving the river’s water quality and preventing further contamination of groundwater in areas along its course. However, nearly two years after approval, implementation of the proposed treatment facilities is yet to gather momentum.

The Noyyal, an important tributary of the Cauvery, originates in the Western Ghats in the Coimbatore district and flows for about 158.35 km through Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode and Karur districts before joining the Cauvery. Around 62.21 km of the river passes through Coimbatore district, where its water system includes 17 dams and 25 ponds. Discharge of untreated sewage from local bodies situated along the river has remained a major environmental concern.

Under the approved funding arrangement, the Centre is expected to meet 60 per cent of the project cost, while the Tamil Nadu government will contribute the remaining 40 per cent. Farmers along the Noyyal have expressed concern that the continued discharge of wastewater is contaminating groundwater and affecting agricultural activities.

Rajan Arunachalam, a farmer and member of a non-political farmers’ association, said there had been virtually no progress on establishing the STPs after the initial announcement.

He said untreated wastewater continued to enter the river from the local bodies, resulting in groundwater pollution and making farming increasingly difficult in areas along the Noyyal.

He urged the authorities to implement the project without further delay. Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar said a proposal had been forwarded to the government to extend the project to local bodies situated along the Noyyal.

He said the project was currently at the Detailed Project Report stage and would be implemented after completion of the necessary procedures.

–IANS

aal/dpb