Cartoons Fight Sewage Flooding Cooum River

Residents in Manavala Nagar, near Chennai, have resorted to creating cartoons to draw attention to the escalating sewage pollution in the Cooum river. The clean stretch near the Putlur check dam, once vital for groundwater recharge, is now facing degradation due to untreated sewage discharge. This situation is particularly concerning as the Cooum river contributes significantly to the local groundwater supply.

Illustrations under the campaign 'Koovam Kudineer' are gaining traction on social media, highlighting how check dams normally help replenish groundwater, and how sewage is now jeopardizing this process. Residents have highlighted that urbanisation and inadequate sewage treatment facilities are the root causes. They have appealed to the local MLA for the operationalization of the Periakuppam sewage treatment plant and an increase in sewage treatment capacity, citing impacts on Vengathur lake as well.