Reviving the Lifeline: Kosasthalaiyar River Set for 70km Restoration

Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT) has launched a major initiative to restore 70 km of the polluted Kosasthalaiyar River, focusing on the stretch from Red Hills to the estuary. The 136-km river, originating in Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh), remains mostly clean upstream of Red Hills, with pollution primarily concentrated in North Chennai.

The project is a coordinated effort involving CRRT, the Water Resources Department (WRD), Metrowater, and the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). Key components include:

Boundary stores (Rs 81 lakh, WRD) to prevent encroachments.

Removal of 13 solid waste dumping points (identified by consultant Voyants), and a centralised waste processing facility at Kondakarai.

Metrowater will plug five sewage outfalls (Rs 1.75 crore) and implement an underground sewerage system in Idayanchavadi, Sadayankuppam, and Kadapakkam by September 2026.

Over 1,000 encroachments in Sadayankuppam (Manali) have reduced the river’s flood-carrying capacity by nearly half, contributing to the 2023 floods. Proposals are being submitted to the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board to relocate affected families.

Work is expected to begin within a month, subject to budget approvals. The WRD stresses that systematic planning and inter-agency coordination are vital to restoring the river’s ecological health and flood resilience.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.