Hunger strike from 13 July to revive polluted Noyyal River: TN activists

Chennai: Farmers and social activists from Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts are preparing for an indefinite protest demanding the revival of the Noyyal River, which they allege has been reduced to a drain due to rampant pollution and official negligence.

The protest, set to begin on 13 July in Mangalam, calls on the state government to immediately curb the inflow of untreated sewage, industrial effluents, and plastic waste into the river. K.N. Mohammed Ali, a local social activist, highlighted the river’s rapid deterioration, noting that the Noyyal, which originates in the Western Ghats and flows through Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Erode before merging with the Cauvery at Karur, has seen a dramatic decline in water quality over the past three decades.

“Once clean and vibrant, the Noyyal is now choked with sewage and solid waste,” said Ali. “The apathy of authorities has allowed local bodies to dump everything—from meat and medical waste to household garbage—directly into the river, especially in areas like Mangalam.”

He added that pollution begins in Coimbatore and worsens downstream in Tiruppur, rendering the river water unfit for any use. “It smells awful. Farmers who rely on the river for irrigation are struggling. We will begin a hunger strike in Mangalam on 13 July. If the government remains indifferent, the protest will continue indefinitely,” he warned.

K.S. Thirugnanasampandan, Chief Coordinator of the Noyyal Farmers’ Protection Association, reiterated these concerns, stating that while river pollution may seem routine to some, it is a matter of survival for affected communities. “Factories, hospitals, and residences release untreated sewage directly into the river. Plastic debris, chemical sludge, and invasive water hyacinths have overrun the riverbanks, degrading surface and groundwater alike,” he said.

Despite five years of petitions, activists say the government has failed to implement meaningful action. “We are left with no choice. The Chief Minister must visit Tiruppur and see the state of the river for himself. Immediate and enforceable orders are essential to halt the release of untreated waste,” Thirugnanasampandan added.

In response, a senior official from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in Tiruppur stated that several sewage treatment plants (STPs) are under construction. “Four STPs are being built—three with a 2 MLD (million litres per day) capacity and one with 3 MLD. Additionally, a major STP with a 26 MLD capacity is coming up in Andipalayam,” the official said.

These projects, once operational, are expected to partially reduce the discharge of untreated sewage into the river. However, activists remain sceptical, insisting that only urgent, sustained, and accountable action from the government can restore the Noyyal to its former glory.

(inputs from IANS)