Chennai: Urban water needs versus ecology, livelihoods
Chennai: With Chennai’s water future uncertain amid rapid urban expansion and climatic fluctuations, the Tamil Nadu government has approved a plan to build the city’s sixth reservoir in Tiruporur, on the southern edge of the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA). While the Water Resources Department (WRD) sees the reservoir as a necessary step to meet the city’s growing water demand, fishermen and environmentalists have warned that the project could completely alter a fragile coastal ecosystem that has sustained people’s livelihoods for generations. The reservoir will be built at a cost of ₹471 crore and span an area of 4,375 acres.
Designed with a depth of 3 meters, the reservoir will store 1.655 TMC of water and serve as both a drinking water source and a flood buffer. According to the proposal, the reservoir will provide water to 12 revenue villages, including Nemmeli, Krishnakaranai, Pattipulam, Saluvankuppam, Payyanur, Thandalam, Kalavakkam, Tiruporur, Thiruvidanthai, Poonjeri, Kadambadi, and Mamallapuram, as well as larger CMA areas. Officials also claim that the project will recharge groundwater, reduce runoff from nearby floodwater drains, and improve natural drainage patterns. During a recent visit to the proposed site and nearby fishing villages, DT Next found a stark contrast between government assurances and local fears, pitting urban water security against coastal ecology and traditional livelihoods.
A Backwater That Brings Life
The proposed reservoir site falls within a part of the Kazhuveli area, commonly referred to by locals as the ‘Uppam Kali’ salt pan, which forms part of the city’s coastal ecology along the Bay of Bengal. Scientifically identified as a backwater, this area functions as a dynamic wetland system, influenced by seasonal rainfall, tidal inflows, and evaporation. When this reporter visited the site, the shallow water, often only waist-deep for a full-grown man, resembled the Bay of Bengal. Flocks of birds glided along the surface in search of food, while fishermen waded through the water with nets. According to local lore and preliminary ecological data, more than 102 species of birds use the area for feeding and hatching.
The wetland also serves as a nursery and breeding ground for shrimp, including species such as valasu iral (large freshwater prawns or large river prawns), tiger prawns, and senaku iral, which are crucial to the local economy. Narayanan, a fisherman in his late 50s, stood near shallow water with a shrimp net slung over his shoulder—a routine he says hasn’t changed since he was a child. “Since I was 12, I’ve been walking about 15 km with my shrimp net to fish here,” he said. “My father, my grandfather, and all my ancestors fished in this lake. We used different types of nets—Kondai Valai, Mani Valai, Pannu Valai, and so on. Now the government is saying they’ll convert this saltwater pond into a freshwater pond. This will destroy this ecosystem and our livelihood.” For fishermen, saltwater ponds are not barren land but living landscapes, created by centuries of human and nature’s coexistence. Lessons from Desalination
In Kovalam Kuppam, a densely populated fishing settlement nearby, residents cite the Nemmeli desalination plant as a cautionary tale. Saravanan, a local fisherman wearing a DMK T-shirt, told DT Next that political changes have done little to address their concerns. “Whether it’s the ADMK or the DMK, it’s the fishermen who suffer,” he lamented. “After the diesel plant became operational, salinity levels increased. Fish stopped coming this way. We can no longer do karai valai (shore fishing). What will happen to us if another major project comes up?” Chennai currently needs 1,100 million liters per day (MLD) of water. According to WRD estimates, this demand is expected to double over the next 10 years, and it is estimated that the Greater Chennai Corporation alone may need 2,178 MLD by 2035. The city’s expansion along the ECR and OMR corridors, due to IT parks, residential projects, and tourism hubs, has put significant pressure on existing water sources. Officials say that without new storage infrastructure, Chennai risks a repeat of the water crisis seen in recent years.
