Chennai water boost: CM M K Stalin lays foundation stone for Rs 342.6-crore Mamallan reservoir on ECR; 13 lakh to benefit

CHENNAI: Chief minister M K Stalin on Monday laid the foundation stone for the Mamallan reservoir project at Nemmeli on the East Coast Road (ECR) in Chengalpattu district, a Rs 342.60-crore Water Resources Department project aimed at augmenting water supply to Chennai’s fast-growing southern suburbs.Speaking at the event, Stalin said, Water management is as important as financial management for a country. “It is part of ancient Tamil culture for habitations to come up around waterbodies. This project will be known in history as one that benefitted Chennai’s growing areas.” Recalling history, he said, the Pallavas had created 39 lakes in the Kancheepuram region during their rule to ensure water security and had established a dedicated lakes maintenance system to manage waterbodies.“Pallava ruler Narasimhavarman I, hailed as ‘Mamallan’, had founded Mamallapuram. Since the new reservoir is coming up near the region, it is appropriate to name it the Mamallan reservoir,” he added.Referring to criticism against the govt, he said, “Some people, despite knowing the truth, and others without knowing the truth, have been spreading lies that the DMK govt did not build any reservoirs.” He added that between 1967 and 2011, during the DMK govt’s administration, a total of 43 reservoirs were built in Tamil Nadu, and also read out the names of all reservoirs to rebut the charges.Listing his govt’s achievements in the water sector, Stalin said, “The Mettur dam has been opened on time over the past five years. Cauvery delta restoration projects were initiated, benefiting farmers. We have taken up 121 check dam works and 63 anaicut works, desilted over 40,000 lakes and 1.3 lakh km of drains. The Thamirabarani–Karumeniyar–Nambiyar interlinking canal project was launched in February last year.”Explaining the Mamallan reservoir project, Stalin said it will come up in the Kovalam basin, covering areas between Thiruporur and Thirukazhukundram along the ECR–OMR stretch. “The reservoir will prevent surplus water from Manamathi lake from draining into the sea and instead store it between Thiruvandandhai and Kokilamedu,” he said.He added, “Spread over 5,100 acres with a capacity of 1.65 TMC and a 34-km-long bund, the reservoir will supply 170 million litres per day and benefit areas such as Sholinganallur, Medavakkam, Pallikaranai, Siruseri, Thiruporur and Mamallapuram, covering 13 lakh people. It will also prevent seawater intrusion, and a 15-km stretch of Buckingham canal will be restored to benefit fishermen, with fishing rights ensured.”