Sustainable Restoration and Management of the Noyyal River: Addressing Environmental Challenges and Water Pollution Control

Subiksha I 1   Rupashree K 2   Sasikumar P 3

Er. I. Subiksha obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in urban planning fromKarpagam Academy of Higher Education. Academic training equipped her with asound understanding of the principles of urban planning, land use regulations, and theneed to balance urban development with environmental and heritage conservation.This report is based on the academic work completed by Subiksha as a reference forthis research study.

 Er. K. Rupashree earned a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering along with aMaster's degree in Town & Country Planning from Karpagam Academy of HigherEducation, resulting in a robust base in Urban Planning Principles, Land UsePlanning, as well as balancing the need for infrastructure development andenvironmental sustainability. Her education combines engineering perspectives withPlanning resulting in a well-rounded approach towards designing and planning UrbanSpaces consistent with Sustainable Development Goals (S.D.G.).

Er P. Sasikumar is a veteran GIS specialist and urban planner, having worked onmultiple national-level planning programs. He has been a faculty in the Departmentof Planning at Karpagam Academy of Higher Education since 2010. He is a Graduatein Engineering from Coimbatore and a Postgraduate in M.Plan (Town and CountryPlanning), Anna University, Chennai. His research interests consist of sustainableurban development and enviromental assessment and doctorate in Civil Engineering.

ABSTRACT:The Noyyal River, a tributary of the Cauvery River in Tamil Nadu, was once a crucial source of  water for drinking, agriculture and ecology. But fast urbanization and industrialization, especially the increase of dyes and bleach industries in Coimbatore since the late 1980s have resulted in excessive  contamination of water. The dumping of untreated industrial effluents, domestic sewage and solid waste into the river has led to the deterioration of the water quality, rendering it unsafe for irrigation and human use. This report investigates the reasons behind water pollution in the Noyyal River, its impacts and current status, while also analysing governmental and judicial responses, including Zero Liquid Discharge policies (ZLD) and Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs).In order to ensure that future water supply can continue and be used sustainably, the Noyyal River needs to be restored through a combination of approaches. To combat pollution effectively we need enforceable environmental laws, traditional tank systems, community involvement, and a variety of regulatory mechanisms. This will help create a sustainable ecological environment and water resource stability.

KEY POINTS: Noyyal River, Cauvery River, Zero Liquid Discharge(ZLD), Common Effluent Treatment Plants(CETPs), River restoration models, Dyeing and Bleaching units, Water pollution, sustainable ecology , resource stability.