Siruthuli, a Tamil Nadu-based NGO, which is spearheading people’s movement by engaging in rejuvenating water sources and waste management in Coimbatore has drawn the attention of the Centre which has asked the State Governments to consider replicating the green initiative in their regions.
The Union Water and Sanitation Ministry’s move follows Prime Minister Office (PMO) reference to the campaign led by green crusader Vanitha Mohan, who is the vice-chairperson of Pricol ltd and first woman to be elected president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore (ICCIC).
Appreciating the efforts undertaken by her NGO in promoting green activities, AK Srivastava, Under Secretary (Water) in the Union Water and Sanitation Ministry has written to all the Principal Secretaries (Water and Sanitation Department) of the States, to implement the steps to get due benefits in their respective regions.
For ready reference for the States, the official in his letter also attached the report ‘Water conservation efforts for achieving water security’ detailing afforestation, water conservation, removal of agricultural encroachments among others undertaken by the NGO along with locals in Coimbatore.
Since 2003, “the NGO has carried out water conservation, desilting of tanks, strengthening of bunds, restoration of rivers by removing encroachment, construction of check dams, rain water harvesting system, afforestation and waste management,” says the letter.
As per the report, as a first step towards Noyyal river restoration, Siruthuli has removed the agricultural encroachments to a distance of about 33 kilometers from its origin and in association with the Government marked boundary stones while undertaken restoration efforts on the four districts through which the river passes, namely Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Karur.
The Siruthuli’s afforestation efforts to green the city of Coimbatore and the surrounding areas was inaugurated by the then President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
As per the report, the project aims to plant 1.5 million saplings across Coimbatore, thus restoring the green cover and increasing the lung spaces. Mass planting activities, with drip irrigation system are being carried out through Public Private Partnership model, involving corporates, local administration, and Government bodies.
In a unique initiative, the NGO recently adopted the ‘Miyawaki’ method of planning which promotes quick afforestation with native species planted in proximity. This method is most ideal for areas with space constraints such as urban locations.