River Cooum is back in the headlines again. Even as the Cooum beautification project, which was kicked off in the previous DMK regime, reached nowhere, the present AIADMK regime is getting ready another multicrore project to restore the ‘stinking’ river.

Senior government sources revealed to Deccan Chronicle that Chennai metro water has envisaged a new project to contain illegal sewage discharge into the Cooum which is the major breeding ground for mosquitoes in the city. A detailed project report, which is nearing completion, would be sent to the state government for getting funds in another two months, the sources added.
An estimated `400 crore would be required to execute the new project which largely comprises plugging the 123 outfalls (discharge points) that pour sewage into the 18km stretch of the river within the city. The river’s upstream that starts from Kesavaram anaicut, 65 km west of Chennai, still remains clean.

The number of outfalls has not reduced and it consistently hovers around the 120-odd mark.
While commercial establishments misuse the stormwater drains to discharge sewage and solid waste, encroachers along the banks let out sewage directly into the river.

Though the illegal sewage discharge into the river goes on throughout the year, the issue largely goes unnoticed as sewage gets diluted during the monsoon season and the situation turns from bad to worse only during the dry summer days, the officials reasoned.

Chennai metro water is planning to take up similar projects to save the Adyar river and Buckingham canal after completing the Cooum project.

-dc chn