Tiruppur River Choked By Waste, Farmers Demand Urgent Government Action
In Tiruppur, farmers and environmental groups are preparing for an indefinite protest to demand the revival of the heavily polluted Noyyal River. Once a lifeline for agriculture across Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Erode, the 158-km-long river is now choked with untreated sewage, industrial waste, and invasive plants. The protest, beginning July 13, aims to pressure the government into halting waste discharge and launching full-scale ecological restoration measures.
The Noyyal River, originating from the Western Ghats, flows through several critical agricultural zones before merging with the Cauvery in Karur. Once a vital water source for farming, it now functions as a contaminated drain due to decades of unchecked waste dumping. Activists allege that untreated factory discharge, plastic waste, and sewage from hospitals and households are routinely dumped into the river, especially near Mangalam and Coimbatore. The stagnant, foul-smelling water is not only destroying the ecosystem but also damaging groundwater quality, posing health risks to both farmers and local communities. Despite years of appeals, the government response has been minimal, prompting affected groups to plan hunger strikes and mass mobilisation efforts. Farmers assert that pollution has rendered large stretches of cultivable land infertile, leading to economic distress and rising water insecurity. With no concrete timeline on government-led cleanup efforts, communities are demanding immediate state-level intervention and sustainable restoration plans.
The protest, coordinated by farmer-led associations, centres on the demand to stop the direct discharge of untreated sewage and enforce riverbank protections. Experts point out that the Noyyal’s pollution is symptomatic of a broader failure in urban waste governance, particularly in rapidly industrialising regions. While authorities have announced upcoming sewage treatment plants (STPs) at four sites, including a 26 MLD facility in Andipalayam, the lack of interim relief has frustrated local residents. Activists argue that river revival requires not just infrastructure but stronger monitoring, plastic waste removal, and eradication of invasive species like water hyacinths. Ground reports also indicate that most STPs under construction remain incomplete, delaying environmental relief. In a bid to escalate the issue, farmer unions plan to begin an indefinite strike if visible restoration does not begin. The protest also demands the chief executive of the state visit Tiruppur and directly assess the impact of inaction on farming livelihoods.
The Noyyal River’s decline has become a rallying point for communities dependent on its waters for agriculture, health, and livelihood. With protests set to intensify, experts warn that piecemeal interventions may no longer be enough. Unless immediate measures are taken to stop illegal waste discharge and revive the ecosystem, the river’s degradation could cause long-term ecological and economic fallout across western Tamil Nadu. Farmers continue to urge the state leadership to prioritise river restoration with urgency and accountability. For now, the Noyyal remains a symbol of neglected water governance and the growing tension between development and environmental survival.
