The Hindu 09.12.2009
Eco-restoration of the Cooum is on
Staff Reporter
— Photo: K.V. Srinivasan 
FIRST STEP: Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin (right) and Mayor M. Subramanian inspecting the Cooum in Chennai.
CHENNAI: Eco-restoration of the Cooum river here formally started on Tuesday with the Public Works Department handing over 10,000 sq m of land along its banks to the Chennai Corporation.
Participating in a function to mark the launch, Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said the first phase, including the beautification of the river, would be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.1,200 crore.
To start with, the Corporation would beautify the banks from the St. Andrew’s Bridge to the Harris Road Bridge. The Public Works Department had removed some encroachments along the banks, particularly near Langs Garden Road in Egmore.
On completion of the work the river channel will be 30 m wide and have boat jetties. The beautified banks would have a green area at the higher flood plain, a walkway, gabion bunding, shaded areas, another green area and a plaza beside the road.
New drainage systems would be constructed at a cost of Rs.200 crore in areas through which the river flows under different local bodies. Upgradation of the existing drainage network at a cost of Rs.117 crore and restoration of the river bank at a cost of Rs.200 crore would be undertaken. Some work being carried out by the Corporation, the PWD and Chennai Metrowater under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission scheme would form part of the first phase.
Technical assistance of private consultants who carried out restoration of the eponymous river that passes through Singapore would be availed of at the appropriate time.
The 71 waterbodies in the river’s catchment areas would be restored. Restoration of other waterways in the city was also under consideration, Mr. Stalin said.
