Adyar River
Encyclopedia
Adyar or Adayar, originating near the Chembarambakkam Lake
in Chengalpattu district, is one of the two rivers which winds through Chennai
(Madras), South India
, and joins the Bay of Bengal
at the Adyar Estuary. The 42.5 km-long river contributes to the estuarine
ecosystem
of Chennai. Despite the high pollution levels, boating and fishing take place in this river. The river takes in surplus water from about 50 tanks and lakes, small streams and the rainwater drains in the city. Most of the waste
from the city is drained into this river and the Cooum.
in Adyar, Chennai. Here it forms an estuary, which extends from the Adyar Bridge to the sandbar at the edge of the sea, with some small islets in-between. The estuary covers an area of about 300 acres.
The present capacity of the river is 39,000 m3/s whereas the anticipated flood discharge capacity is about 60,000 m3/s. During the floods of 2005, the river had a discharge rate of 55,000 m3/s.
may be a first towards restoring this fragile but vibrant eco-system.
and the Cooum River
, taking the major share (60 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively).
, Anna University
, Madras Boat Club
, Thenral
are prominent institutions located in the banks of Adyar. Adyar Estuary is now a protected wildlife reserve.
Chembarambakkam Lake
Chembarambakkam lake is a lake located in the Kanchipuram district of India, about 40 km from Chennai, South India. It is one of the two rain-fed reservoirs from where water is drawn for supply to Chennai City, the other one being the Puzhal Lake. The Adyar River originates from this lake...
in Chengalpattu district, is one of the two rivers which winds through Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
(Madras), South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
, and joins 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...
at the Adyar Estuary. The 42.5 km-long river contributes to the estuarine
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
of Chennai. Despite the high pollution levels, boating and fishing take place in this river. The river takes in surplus water from about 50 tanks and lakes, small streams and the rainwater drains in the city. Most of the waste
Waste
Waste is unwanted or useless materials. In biology, waste is any of the many unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from living organisms, metabolic waste; such as urea, sweat or feces. Litter is waste which has been disposed of improperly...
from the city is drained into this river and the Cooum.
Origin and course
Adyar river starts from Malaipattu tank (80.00° latitude and 12.93° longitude) near Manimangalam village in Sriperumbudur Taluk at about 15 km west of Tambaram near Chennai. It starts to appear as a stream only from the point where water from Chembarambakkam lake joins the river. It flows through Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chennai district for about 42.5 km before joining the Bay of BengalBay 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...
in Adyar, Chennai. Here it forms an estuary, which extends from the Adyar Bridge to the sandbar at the edge of the sea, with some small islets in-between. The estuary covers an area of about 300 acres.
Geography
The river has varying depth with approximately 0.75 m in its upper reaches and 0.5 m in its lower reaches. The catchment area of the river is 530 km2. Bed width ranges from 10.5 to 200 m. If flows to a length of 24 km in the Chennai Metropolitan Area including about 15 km within the Chennai District before draining into the sea. It discharges about 190 to 940 million m3 water annually to the Bay of Bengal. The discharge is seasonal with about 7 to 33 times more than the annual average during the North East monsoon season between September to December. The river is also supplied by surplus water from about 40 ponds.The present capacity of the river is 39,000 m3/s whereas the anticipated flood discharge capacity is about 60,000 m3/s. During the floods of 2005, the river had a discharge rate of 55,000 m3/s.
Ecology
Adyar Estuary and Creek and the Theososphical Society on the Estuary's southern side has been a haven for migratory and resident birds for years. The environmental conditions in the estuary with low salinity, good shelters and high plankton availability in the Adyar creek serves as a good nursery for fish. The flow of tidal water in and out of the creek allowed for easy travel of boats. It therefore encouraged fishing and there was a thriving economy of fish trade here. However, with the city's sewage and effluence from its various industries, for some time, emptying into the river, the biological activities in the region was affected. Although the number has been in decline due to pollution and anthropogenic activities, they still attract hundreds of birds. Even before few years the Theosophical Society has come out with a CD on 'Birds of Adyar', compiled by Trust for Environment Monitoring and Action Initiating. The proposed Adyar PoongaAdyar Eco Park
Tholkappia Poonga or Adyar Eco Park is an ecological park set up by the Government of Tamil Nadu in the Adyar estuary area of Chennai, India...
may be a first towards restoring this fragile but vibrant eco-system.
Contamination
The river receives a sizeable quantity of sewage from Chennai after reaching Nandambakkam near Chennai. The river is almost stagnant except during the rain season. Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation has led to severe contamination of this river. However, the river gets just 10 per cent of the untreated sewage being let into the three principle waterways of Chennai daily, with the other two, namely, the Buckingham CanalBuckingham Canal
The Buckingham Canal is a long fresh water navigation canal, running parallel to the Coromandel Coast of South India from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh to Villupuram District in Tamil Nadu. The canal connects most of the natural backwaters along the coast to the port of Chennai...
and the 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...
, taking the major share (60 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively).
Landmarks
The Theosophical SocietyTheosophical Society
The Theosophical Society is an organization formed in 1875 to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. The original organization, after splits and realignments has several successors...
, Anna University
Anna University
Anna University was a premier technical university in Tamil Nadu, India. Anna University was formed on September 4, 1978, as a unitary university that integrated four technical institutions in the city of Chennai , including the College of Engineering, Guindy, Alagappa College of Technology,...
, Madras Boat Club
Madras Boat Club
The Madras Boat Club, located in the South of India, in the historic city of Chennai is one of the oldest rowing centres in India.-History:It was a few Englishmen in Madras who founded the club in 1867...
, Thenral
Thenral
Thenral, earlier known as Brodie Castle, is a house in Chennai, India. Named after civil servant James Brodie, who constructed the house in 1796, it currently houses the School of Carnatic music.- History :...
are prominent institutions located in the banks of Adyar. Adyar Estuary is now a protected wildlife reserve.
Bridges
- Broken bridge in Foreshore EstateForeshore EstateForeshore Estate is a neighbourhood in Chennai, India.It is one of the primary sites in the city for the immersion of the Ganesh idols during the annual Ganesh festival. The idols are first paraded down South Marina Beach before being bought to Foreshore Estate for immersion in the sea. The...
, a pedestrian bridge that is now broken and not in use - Eliphinstone Bridge in Adyar, now not in use
- Thiru Vi Ka Bridge in Adyar
- Kotturpuram Bridge in KotturpuramKotturpuramKotturpuram is a locality in Chennai , Tamil Nadu, India. Located on the south bank of the Adyar River, it is easily identified on satellite maps, being situated on a prominent northward bend of the river. It consists mostly of residences and sports clubs...
- Maramalai Adigar Bridge in SaidapetSaidapetSaidapet is an important neighbourhood in Chennai , India. The Saidapet Court, the only other court of judicature in Chennai city apart from the Madras High Court and the Saidapet bus depot are located here...
- Alandur Causeway in West SaidapetSaidapetSaidapet is an important neighbourhood in Chennai , India. The Saidapet Court, the only other court of judicature in Chennai city apart from the Madras High Court and the Saidapet bus depot are located here...
- Jafferkhanpet Bridge in JafferkhanpetJafferkhanpetJafferkhanpet is a locality of Chennai, India. Guindy, K. K. Nagar, Ashok Nagar, MGR Nagar, Saidapet are its neighbourhood suburbs. You can reach Jafferkhanpet by travelling in the newly constructed Guindy flyover...
- Ramapuram Bridge in RamapuramRamapuramRamapuram is a suburb of Chennai, India. It is situated on the Mount-Poonamallee Road at a distance of 3 kilometres from Guindy. Ramapuram forms a part of Kanchipuram district....
, near MGR's house.
External links
- http://www.thesouthchennai.com - Online Tamil News Portal about Adyar at south chennai zone.
- Anna varsity begins study on water quality in rivers
- Check dam to harness rainwater
- http://www.charliesbirdblog.com/~charlie/MAA18jan06/MAA18jan06.html
- Brodie Castle Madras