Revival of ‘lost’ river renews ryots’ hopes

Originating from Kurudimalai near Narasimhanaickenpalayam in Coimbatore district, the river runs for 49.8 km through Coimbatore (39 km) and Tirupur district (10.8 km) before merging with River Noyyal at Aandipalayam. But, sadly, the river remains dry more than a decade. 

Mining of red sand for bricks at Thalamadal Pallam, Thannasi Pallam and Chem Pallam that are located in the catchment areas of the river’s tributaries, poor rainfall and new check dams across the river’s tributaries are cited as the river’s plight. 

“After the floods in 1999, water has never run through the course of the river for more than three decades,” P K Selvaraj, secretary of Athikadavu Kousika Nadhi Development Association (AKNDA) which has striving for the revival of the river for over three years, told DTNext. 

He said that a decade ago water once flowed till Salaiyur check dam, which is nearly 20 km from the point of origin. Without the name boards bearing the words Kousika River, one would hardly know that there was once water flowing through the barren land that is now filled with thorny bushes. It also became a dump yard for wastes and sewage from the local bodies. “Till early 1990s, we had plenty of groundwater at a depth of 60 to 100 feet,” he said. 

With the mushrooming of borewells on the river bank, the water level went down to 300 to 400 feet in the next few years. “For the last two years, we are not able to draw water even after drilling for 1,200 feet. Only 20 per cent of the wells are able to pump water,” he said.  This forced farmers in the once agriculturally rich belt to switch to alternative sources of income. The district administration’s announcement has renewed the farmers’ hope in the region.