But will the project materialise and add a jewel to the DMK’s crown? Will the 18-km stretch (within the city) of the 72-km-long seasonal river become clean and turn the state capital into Singara Chennai? That remains to be seen.

The answer lies largely in plugging the ‘outfalls’ (open drains) that pour sewage into the river, say experts. According to an outfall inspection conducted by Wardrop Engineering Inc for the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in 1995, the Cooum river had 128 outfalls in Chennai metropolitan area (CMA) and 116 in the city. A similar study undertaken by an engineering team of the state PWD, TNPCB, CMDA, Chennai Metro Water and Environment Management Agency of Tamil Nadu in 2005 revealed that the outfalls had increased to 139 in CMA and 125 in the city.

Environmental Water Pollution and its Control, a one-volume scientific discussion of water pollution and its adverse effects on man and the environment, compiled by experts from Japan, Canada and India states: “River Cooum flowing through Madras has been polluted by sewage so much that not even zooplanktons have been able to thrive in it.”

The study also reveals that one litre of Cooum water contained 900 mg of iron, 275 mg of lead, 1,313 mg of nickel and 32 mg of Zinc as early as the mid-1980s. This scenario has only worsened owing to rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. Managing director of Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board Shivdas Meena says there are about 178 outfalls in Chennai as of date and action is required on the part of CMWSSB on 105 outfalls. Of the 105, about eight have already been plugged and steps have been taken to plug 20 more outfalls at an estimated cost of Rs 12.61 crore, he adds.

The detailed project report (DPR) for the remaining 77 outfalls will be ready by mid-September, Mr Meena says, explaining that some are mid-term projects, while others will be completed by two years. Funds will be mobilised for the works from the Chennai City River Conservation Project and the state government.

Allaying fears about the outfall control work deterring the Cooum beautification, Mr Meena says the two projects will run parallel to each other. In order to arrest sewage discharge into the Cooum in rural areas like Nerkundram, Nolambur and Vanagaram, CMWSSB had prepared a DPR for developing sewerage facilities there, he says, elaborating that the board is focusing on tracing the sources of outfalls and plugging them.

Meanwhile, experts say that the government should also focus on preventing individuals and institutions from discharging sewage into Cooum. Overexploitation of surface and groundwater upstream, which reduces the flow in the river, encroachment of the riverbank and formation of sand bars at the river mouth near Napier Bridge are among a host of other factors that contribute to spoiling the Cooum and Chennai itself, experts add.

Nearly a 7-km stretch along the Cooum bank has been encroached upon by around 9,000 families in the city limits. Incidentally, deputy chief minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday inaugurated two parks developed on the Cooum bank where slums existed till a few months back.