Korattur Barrage (Waterbodies of Chennai - 29)

Mention Chennai, and the conversation inevitably turns to the Cooum River, a waterway that meanders through the heart of the city. Unfortunately, this once-pristine river now embodies an open sewage system, a stark reminder of the collective missteps taken by the residents of Chennai over the years. 'Cooum' has regrettably become synonymous with stench, although the blame falls not on the river itself but on those residing along its banks, who transformed it into a sewer. Let's delve briefly into the river's origins.

In contrast to the citizens of Chennai, those on the outskirts of North Chennai and the Tiruvallur district have, comparatively, managed to preserve the river's cleanliness—albeit, whenever water flows through it, an increasingly rare occurrence in recent years.

Cooum was once considered a sacred river, much like its counterparts across the land. Many ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva grace its banks. The river Kosasthalaiyar originates in the vicinity of Pallipet village, located in the Tiruvallur district. It is within the Kesavaram village that this river splits into two: Kosasthalaiyar and Cooum, with the latter originating in Kesavaram.

In the village of Korattur, near Chembarampakkam, a barrage was constructed to divert Cooum's waters to Chembarampakkam Lake. This village stands roughly 55 km from the river's source. Up to this point, the river retains its untainted character.

I had the privilege of visiting this village when the river was awash with fresh, pure water, towards the end of 2015 CE. 

Happy travelling.


Note: A report reveals that Chennai was once home to over 650 water bodies up until the 1980s. Presently, only a fraction remain, and most of those have seen a significant reduction in size. There are roads named after tanks, although the tanks themselves have disappeared, and 'lake view' roads now bear no lakes in their vicinity. Sadly, there's a high likelihood that even the few remaining water bodies in the region may vanish in the near future. I've contemplated visiting these surviving water bodies in Chennai and its suburbs, and documenting them in a blog series.