The Ennore Creek actually drains two rivers, not one.

The Araniyar drains

into the Pulicat lake near the Sriharikota Island. From there, the waters
flow south to Puzhuthivakkam and turn east to enter the Bay of Bengal at
Mugathwarakuppam. The 136 km long Kosasthalaiyar is longer than both
the Adyar and Cooum taken together. The Kosasthalaiyar also drains a
much larger land area than Adyar and Cooum taken together. As it
approaches Sadayankuppam, the Kosasthalaiyar splits into several
branches and spreads out to form the southern arm of the Ennore Creek. It
runs north from Manali to Puzhuthivakkam where it meets Araniyar's
waters and turns east to empty into the Bay of Bengal at
Mugathwarakuppam. Ennore Creek drains both the Kosasthalaiyar and the
Araniyar. As fisherfolk, we know that playing with water is even more
dangerous than playing with fire.

The Kosasthalaiyar splits into several branches as it enters the

Ennore Creek.

For 30 years, we have watched with distress as our river was turned into a
receptacle for garbage, sewage and industrial effluents. The first cut came a
long time ago, when the British built a railway bridge connecting Chennai
to North India. The pillars of the bridge interfered with the flow of the river.
But the effect was negligible as the area between pillars was dredged to its
original depth to minimise disruption of the flow, and there was only this
one bridge.
In the 1960s, the Ennore Thermal Power Station was set up. In those days,
the river was bountiful. Fish would literally jump into our boats. White
prawns (vellai iral), black prawns (karuppu iral), sand prawns (mann iral),
tiger prawns, green crab, irun kezhuthi, mullet (madavai), oodan,
kezhangan, uppathi, keechan, kalvaan, panna, koduva -- we did not have to
work hard to get enough to eat and for a surplus. In those days, our river
was a busy place: boats laden with casuarina, shells for limestone, salt from
the Athipattu salt pans and grain would go up and down the Canal through
the locks. The salt pans employed a large number of people. We would fish
in the river, the canal and the various mangrove-fringed streams and canals
around the salt pans.
In the late 1980s, the industries of the Manali Industrial Area began
discharging their effluents into the Buckingham Canal. The municipalities
along the route too began discharging untreated sewage into the Canal. We
watched the Canal die in front of our eyes. There was a time when we could
walk out of our homes and fish in the Canal and return home in no time
with enough for the day. We protested against the pollution. But we were
not heard. The Canal and the river was our life. But the rest of the city had
turned its back to them. We lost the Canal, but the creek was still a source
of livelihood. It still ran unhindered and relatively clean.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the North Chennai Thermal Power
Station (NCTPS) was set up in Mugathwarakuppam. We opposed it because
an entire village was evicted and relocated to the southern shore of the
estuary. It was a government project; the Government promised to relocate
us and offered jobs in Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. We accepted it in good
faith. At least one person from each family would have a government job.
The others would still have the river. We never bargained to lose the river.
Had we known that the jobs were on offer in return for the river, we would
not have accepted.
NCTPS began discharging hot water into the creek. It gobbled up salt pans
and fish ponds to set up its ash pond in Seppakkam. The ash from these
huge ash ponds leaked into the creek and silted up the river. Ash pipelines
were laid on platforms that blocked the flow of the river. As if that were not
enough, the leaky pipelines spilt the ash slurry into the river forming a
cement-like layer that choked all life. With every tide, the flyash would be
spread along the river bed till it formed a carpet of death over a large area.
The depth of the river was drastically reduced. Waters where three of our
tallest men could stand feet upon shoulder over one another are now ankle
deep in low-tide. We have to push our boats across these islands of flyash.
Ash spilling from leaky pipelines have choked the river and the
Canal.

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/chennai-fishermens-call-residents-join-our-campaign-
save-ennore-creek-save-our-city-49247

late 1950’s : the British built railway bridge connecting Chennai to North India
where pillars of the bridge interfered the flow of the river.
1960s, the Ennore Thermal Power Station was set up. The river was
bountiful. Fish would literally jump into boats.
Late 1980s, the industries of the Manali Industrial Area began discharging
their effluents into the Buckingham Canal. The municipalities along the
route too began discharging untreated sewage into the Canal.
Late 1980s and early 1990s, the North Chennai Thermal Power Station
(NCTPS) was set up in Mugathwarakuppam. Government project; the
Government promised to relocate people and offered jobs in Tamil Nadu
Electricity Board.
NCTPS began discharging hot water into the creek. It gobbled up salt pans
and fish ponds to set up its ash pond in Seppakkam.
Ash from these huge ash ponds leaked into the creek and silted up the river.
Ash pipelines were laid on platforms that blocked the flow of the river. As if
that were not enough, the leaky pipelines spilt the ash slurry into the river
forming a cement-like layer that choked all life.