Kosasthalaiyar River
Encyclopedia
The Kosasthalaiyar River is one of the three rivers that flow in the Chennai metropolitan area
. The 136 km-long river originates near Kaveripakkam
in Vellore District
and drains into the Bay of Bengal
. It has catchment area in North Arcot District with a branch near Kesavaram Anicut and flows to the city as Cooum River
and the main Kosasthalaiyar River flows to Poondi reservoir. From Poondi reservoir, the river flows through Thiruvallur District, enters the Chennai metropolitan area, and joins the sea at Ennore creek
. The excess discharge in the river is controlled by the Tamarapakkam Anicut located across the river in the downstream of Poondi reservoir. Vallur Anicut is a small check dam constructed near Minjur
across the river to control water levels and feed irrigation channels in the area. It flows to a distance of 16 km in the Chennai metropolitan area. The total catchment area of the river is 3,757 km2 and the bed width ranges from 150 to 250 m. The discharge capacity of the river is 110,000 m3/s and the anticipated flood discharge capacity is about 125,000 m3/s.
Chennai Metropolitan Area
The Chennai Metropolitan Area is the fourth largest metropolitan area in India and the 30th in the world in terms of population . The CMA consists of the metropolitan city of Chennai and its suburbs. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority is the nodal agency that handles town planning...
. The 136 km-long river originates near Kaveripakkam
Kaveripakkam
Kaveripakkam is a panchayat town in Vellore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Kaveripakkam had a population of 12,514. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Kaveripakkam has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of...
in Vellore District
Vellore District
Vellore district is one of the 32 districts in the Tamil Nadu state of India. Vellore City is the headquarters of this district. It had a population of 3,477,317 as of 2001. It is 37.62% urbanised...
and drains into the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
. It has catchment area in North Arcot District with a branch near Kesavaram Anicut and flows to the city as Cooum River
Cooum River
The Cooum River , is an urban river which ends in the city of Chennai draining into the Bay of Bengal. Along with the Adyar River running parallel to the south, the river trifurcates the city and separates Northern Chennai from Central Chennai.The name of Cooum appears to be derived from Tamil...
and the main Kosasthalaiyar River flows to Poondi reservoir. From Poondi reservoir, the river flows through Thiruvallur District, enters the Chennai metropolitan area, and joins the sea at Ennore creek
Ennore creek
Ennore creek is a backwater located in Ennore, Chennai along the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. It is located in the zone comprising lagoons with salt marshes and backwaters, submerged under water during high tide and forming an arm of the sea with the opening to the Bay of Bengal at the...
. The excess discharge in the river is controlled by the Tamarapakkam Anicut located across the river in the downstream of Poondi reservoir. Vallur Anicut is a small check dam constructed near Minjur
Minjur
Minjur is a town in Thiruvallur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Minjur is also called "Vada Kanchi" for North Kanchipuram. The town has two famous temples for Siva and Vishu, similar to Kanchipuram.-Geography:Minjur is located at...
across the river to control water levels and feed irrigation channels in the area. It flows to a distance of 16 km in the Chennai metropolitan area. The total catchment area of the river is 3,757 km2 and the bed width ranges from 150 to 250 m. The discharge capacity of the river is 110,000 m3/s and the anticipated flood discharge capacity is about 125,000 m3/s.