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Coordinates: 13°04′05″N 80°17′09″E / 13.068107°N 80.28585°E / 13.068107; 80.28585

The Cooum River in Chennai

The Cooum River, is the famous river which ends in the city of Chennai (formerly Madras) in India on the Bay of Bengal. The river almost bisects the city.

The name of Cooum appears to be derived from Tamil Literature. The word "coovalan" denotes a person who is well versed in the science of ground water, well water and stagnant water.

It is also considered to be the shortest classified river draining into the Bay of Bengal and is only about 65 km long. Its source is in a place by the same name 'Koovam' in Tiruvallur district adjoining Chennai district.

[edit] Origin

The River Cooum originates in a village of the same name, about 70 km away from Chennai. Once a fresh water source, it is today a drainage course inside Chennai, collecting surpluses of 75 small tanks of a minor basin. The length of the river is about 65 km, of which 18 km fall within the Chennai city limits. Once a fishing river and boat racing ground, it has borne the brunt of the city's unplanned explosion. The Kesavaram dam diverts the river into the Chembarambakkam Lake from which water is utilized for the supply of drinking water to the city of Chennai. Thereafter, the flow of water in the river is much reduced.

Two ancient Shiva temples are located at the source of the river. The first is Tiruvirkolam, in Cooum village, and the other is at Ilambaiyankottur. These temples have been featured in the Thevaram sung by the Saivite saint Thirugnanasambandar. Note thatthere is one more temple called "veerebathrasami" temple. The God in the temple is otherwise called as "Akoramoorthy". This temple is at Pillayarkuppam, 2 km from koovam village.

[edit] History

Cooum is presently a river spoiled by filth and pollution and the water quality is considered to be highly toxic and completely non-potable. As early as thirty years ago recreational boats were available for leisure boating. The Annual tourism exhibition used to take tourists in the waterways until 1985. Two ancient Shiva temples are located at the source of the river. The first is Tiruvirkolam, in Cooum village and the other is at Ilambaiyankottur. These temples have been featured in the Thevaram sung by the Saivite saint Thirugnanasambandar. Ancient documents from the nearby temples states about one 'reaching salvation' on having a dip in the Cooum. Here, the Cooum river is clean and unpolluted. The 2004 tsunami cleaned the mouth of the river - but it returned to its usual Polluted self within a short period.

[edit] Pollution

The mouth of the Cooum river

The river is narrow, placid, slow and meandering. The study of the river was undertaken as part of a World Bank funded project and shows that it is 80% more polluted than treated sewer. PWD sources said government agencies like Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, and business units and retail outlets on the banks of the Cooum were responsible for the pollution. The water has almost no dissolved oxygen, and instead there are traces of heavy metals like copper, besides sewage and sludge. Due to its narrowness and about 3500 illegal hutments along its banks, it has not been recently desilted, which has closed it to river traffic.

[edit] Cleanup

There is currently a project funded by World Bank to clean up this river. A team from Chennai is visiting San Antonio in Texas to see how they successfully did the cleanup of a polluted river. The team comprises Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister, Chennai Mayor C.Subramaniam and Senior officers.

[edit] Tsunami

However, in an ironic twist, during the tsunami of 2004 the empty waterway enabled it to take in much of the incoming ocean water. Some say this would not have been possible had the river been in full flow.

[edit] External links

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