WRD Partners With NGOs and Residents to Rejuvenate Cooum River Stretches

The Water Resources Department (WRD) has initiated a community-led effort to rejuvenate the upper reaches of the Cooum river, starting with a joint inspection of a 3.8-kilometre pilot stretch between Paruthipattu and Kannadapalayam on Wednesday. The inspection involved WRD officials, local residents of Seneerkuppam, representatives from Anna University, and voluntary organisations.

Under this new initiative, the department plans to invite expressions of interest from local communities, NGOs, and other stakeholders to adopt and maintain specific stretches of the waterway. This shift towards public participation aims to establish a more comprehensive and sustainable restoration process for the river, which faces severe pollution challenges.

The pilot project will focus on the stretch between the Paruthipattu and Kannadapalayam check dams. Officials stated that involving civic associations and voluntary groups will significantly improve the monitoring of the river. Based on the outcome of this pilot, the department plans to expand the adoption model to other stretches.

As part of the broader effort, Exnora International has proposed to adopt and clean a three-kilometre stretch of the river between Koyambedu and Nerkundram. V. Subramani of Exnora International stated that their proposal includes removing water hyacinth and planting vegetation along the banks. The group has also suggested riverfront development and the creation of walkways to encourage public use, which they believe will help prevent garbage dumping and sewage pollution.

The upper reaches of the Cooum river, spanning nearly 40 kilometres up to Tiruvallur, are heavily affected by solid waste dumping and raw sewage pollution. To address this, the WRD has received suggestions to allot specific sections of the river to different organisations for cleaning, plantation, and ongoing maintenance.

Additionally, the department is planning to partner with voluntary organisations to construct modular sewage treatment plants. These plants will intercept and divert raw sewage before it enters the river. The WRD recently coordinated a similar modular sewage treatment plant project along a portion of the Adyar river.