Several people passing by the stretch of the Cooum river stop to have a look at the machinery involved in placing large stones to build a canal. This is one of the early measures to achieve the dream of a clean Cooum river.
As part of the ambitious Integrated Cooum River Eco-Restoration Plan, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has taken up the work to build a baby canal in the middle of the river to ensure water flow even during summer.
Large boulders are being brought in for a width varying between 3 m and 8 m to form a canal, which will convey water even when there is less flow and to prevent stagnation. Sources in the Chennai River Restoration Trust (CRRT) and the WRD said the canal had been laid for a distance of 100 metres near the Padikuppam causeway. “The stone packaging has been laid at a gap of one ft on the river bed to allow water to flow along the full width of the river. We will observe the function of the canal for sometime and extend it up to the stretch near Chetpet,” said sources.
Of the total distance of 27 km in the Cooum river, work has been launched on the stretch between Paruthipattu and Thiruverkadu and near Koyambedu as these are less encroached on. Besides desilting the stretch, the bund will also be strengthened. The CRRT is in the process of getting approval for work on the stretch between Chetpet and the river mouth under the Coastal Regulation Zone.
There is also a proposal to lay a coconut blanket made of coconut fibre over the bund slope to control erosion and plant saplings. Meanwhile, Chennai Metrowater and the Corporation are involved in plugging sewage outfalls and clearing debris from the Cooum river near Koyambedu.
