Chennai:
It's a river that's seen as the curse of Chennai running right across the city. Now the DMK'S rising son M K Stalin is determined to clean up the River Cooum and transform it into a beautiful waterway. But will it happen?
This 18 km long eyesore across Chennai may transform into the city's Thames, if all goes well. The toxic cocktail of domestic sewage and industrial waste that flows into the River Cooum will be diverted to treatment plants.
But it will take ten years, many governments have failed in this mission but this time the project is based on a successful Singapore model.
"Whenever required we would also seek the guidance and assistance from the Singapore government," said M K Stalin, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister.
Over ten thousand encroachments on the river bank are being removed, replacing them will be green parks and providing new lung spaces for Chennaites.
"Later on, once the river cleaning is over this place will be ideal for commercial and entertainment development where a revenue model can be worked out," said S Ramasundaram, Principal Secretary.
Many say ten years is a long time and the big challenge for the rising son will be to ensure that the project survives the change of governments.