- Chennai, August 23
The Mamallan reservoir project in Chengalpattu has triggered friction between the Water Resources Department (WRD) and the Fisheries Department after construction began without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Nearly 30% of the work on the drinking water project has reportedly been completed, even as the Fisheries Department continues to withhold clearance pending detailed information on its environmental and livelihood impact.
The reservoir is being constructed in the Kovalam sub-basin, between East Coast Road and Old Mahabalipuram Road. Spread over about 5,161 acres, it will have an annual storage capacity of 2.25 thousand million cubic feet and is expected to strengthen Chennai’s drinking water supply.
Former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin laid the foundation stone for the project in January. However, the WRD approached the Additional Director of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare for an NOC only on July 21, nearly six months after construction commenced.
The delay has raised concerns among senior officials, as the project is located close to the coast and could affect nearly 5,000 fishing families dependent on the surrounding waterbodies and coastal ecosystem.
A senior government official said the WRD should have consulted the Fisheries Department and secured clearance before beginning construction. Prior approval was particularly important because the project could have significant consequences for traditional fishing communities, the official said.
The Fisheries Department has sought additional documents and technical details to assess the project’s likely impact. Officials said repeated requests for information had not received a satisfactory response from the WRD.
A decision on the NOC, including possible conditions and safeguards, will be taken only after the required documents are examined, Fisheries Department sources said.
The dispute has raised questions about coordination between government departments in executing major infrastructure projects. With work continuing despite the pending clearance, the WRD could be directed to modify parts of the project or introduce measures to protect affected fishing communities.
