Cooum River Restoration
Cooum River Restoration
BACKGROUND
The Cooum River originates from the surplus course of Cooum tank in Tiruvallur District. It runs east for a distance of about 65 kilometres and confluences with the Bay of Bengal downstream of Napier Bridge, traversing a distance of 20 kilometres within Chennai city limits.
Cooum River Sub-Basin is a narrow drainage basin of about 505.88 Sq.km situated between the Kosasthalaiyar sub-basin on the northern side and Palar basin and Adyar basin on the southern side. Cooum River is fed by Kosasthalaiyar river surplus from Kesavaram Anicut through old Bangaru channel and Palar river surplus from Palar anicut through Govindavadi Channel, Kambakkal Channel and the chain of surplus courses of groups of tanks. Cooum River also supplies water to Chembarambakkam lake in the Adyar Sub-basin from Korattur Anicut through New Bangaru Channel. Cooum River is connected to its adjoining basins through the Buckingham Canal. Cooum River supports a substantial portion of irrigation and additional rain fed agriculture in its upper part and also provides water supply to Chennai city and its adjoining areas. Cooum River also acts as the major flood carrier for Chennai city with its arms viz., Otteri Nallah in the north (10.8 km) and Virugambakkam to Arumbakkam drain in the south (6.4 km).
STATUS OF COOUM RIVER
The upper catchment of Cooum River is primarily rural and as it enters the peri-urban areas and Chennai City, the river is constrained in channels before draining into the Bay of Bengal. The Cooum River in its upstream rural areas shows issues of catchment degradation and tank siltation. There is also no minimum flow maintained in the river during the lean season. As the river flows through peri-urban areas and municipalities, there are increasing problems of water quality. The highly polluted reputation of the river also leads to public apathy and disposal of solid waste on the river bed that impacts downstream water quality and oxygen levels in the water. When it enters the city, the river is basically an urban sewer receiving municipal and industrial wastewater and solid waste (especially near bridges) and refuse from slums. This results in the direct impact of polluted anoxic stretches, as well as raises public health (including from mosquito breeding in stagnant waters) and odour concerns and secondary groundwater pollution. The river mouth is subject to blockage by sand bars resulting from littoral drift creating a lack of tidal exchange in the river.
INTEGRATED COOUM RIVER ECO-RESTORATION PROJECT
The Project area presently being covered for restoration comprises the stretch from Paruthipattu to the river mouth in the Bay of Bengal. It was proposed to take up the restoration from Paruthipattu as the major sources of pollution have been observed to be downstream of Paruthipattu, in the densely populated urban areas.
The Project area presently being covered for restoration comprises the stretch from Paruthipattu to the river mouth in the Bay of Bengal. It was proposed to take up the restoration from Paruthipattu as the major sources of pollution have been observed to be downstream of Paruthipattu, in the densely populated urban areas.
- To ensure effective abatement of pollution and protection of rivers by adopting a sustainable approach to promoting inter-sectoral co-ordination through comprehensive planning and management.
- To maintain ecological flows into the river with the aim of ensuring water quality and sustainable development.
- To develop the river front within urbanized areas, wherever possible.
- To explore potential future uses of the river after restoration.
Project Implementation
The Government of Tamil Nadu is strongly committed to enhance the ecological condition of city waterways. In this direction, the Integrated Cooum River Eco-Restoration Project (ICRERP) was taken up by the Government under the aegis of the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT).
The ecological restoration of Cooum River from Paruthipattu check dam to the river mouth in the Bay of Bengal for a length of 32 km was taken up and the Government have accorded Administrative Sanction of Rs.735.08 crore for the implementation of Integrated Cooum River Eco-Restoration Project.
Various pollution abatement measures are proposed such as Interceptors and diversion of sewage to improve the water quality, river channel improvement to enhance ecological flow of the river and development of parks and maintenance pathways. River bank vegetation and mangrove plantations are planned to enhance the diversity of flora and fauna in the Cooum riverine system.
Department Works
The implementation of the eco-restoration of Cooum River is an integrated process with various line departments involved
Water Resources Department
Sustainable river mouth opening, Desilting, Demarcation & Fixing boundary stones
Greater Chennai Corporation
Solid waste removal, Fencing, Boom deployment, walkways and Riverine plantation
Directorate of Municipal Administration
Solid waste removal and Fencing
Directorate of Rural Development
Solid waste removal and Fencing
Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board
Laying of interceptor pipelines, Installing modular sewage treatment plants and Underground sewerage system (UGSS)
Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board
Resettlement & Rehabilitation plan
Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust
Mangrove development, Flora Plantation, Community education programme and Monitoring of project implementation.
The ecological restoration works for Cooum and Adyar rivers are being implemented by various line departments such as Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB), Water Resources Department (WRD), Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), Department of Rural Development & Panchayat Raj and Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust is entrusted with coordinating and monitoring the projects.
Community Education Programme
Realizing the critical importance of involving all stakeholders in the ongoing river restoration process, various community education programmes are regularly conducted by the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT) bringing together educational institutions, resident welfare associations, commercial establishments, panchayat raj institutions, urban local bodies and other community based organisations.
