Chennai’s green cover to get Rs 2,600 crore boost – Times of India

CHENNAI: The city will soon get lush greenery akin to the Adyar eco-park in RA Puram on the banks of Adyar and Cooum rivers and the Buckingham canal. About Rs 2,600 crore would be spent on this project, local administration minister K N Nehru said.
The minister on Friday evening visited the Adyar eco-park also known as the Tholkappiar park, along with officials from Greater Chennai Corporation and Chennai River Restoration Trust (CRRT).
A senior CRRT official told TOI that the ongoing restoration activity along the banks of rivers and Buckingham canal would be carried out in a holistic manner. The areas being targeted are spots where Kosasthalaiyar, Cooum, Adyar and Kovalam rivers drain into the sea, at Ennore, Napier bridge, Adyar and Muttukadu. The Adyar eco-park is at the mouth of the Adyar river.
“There will be many parks along the banks of these water bodies. For instance, the civic body along with CRRT is planning a similar park in Adyar,” the CRRT official said.
Cooum river flows for a length of 32km, Adyar 42km and the Buckingham canal 48km.
Elaborating on the holistic restoration of rivers, the official said they would also be focusing on feeder canals that drain into these rivers and canals. “These are the ones which also drain a lot of sewage and waste into the rivers which needs to be checked,” another official said.
After inspecting the park, the minister said the Adyar eco-park had not been maintained properly and that he had ordered for its clean-up, a task which would be finished in a month. After this, the park would be opened up to the public, the minister said. Other parks in the city too would undergo intensive maintenance work as they open up fully for residents.