Residents of Vayalur, Parameswaramangalam and other hamlets near the Palar river in Cheyyur taluk staged a demonstration on ECR demanding that the government expedite a check-dam proposal at Vayalur. The demonstrators formed a human chain and waved placards in support of their demand.
The State government had proposed to construct a check-dam across Palar river near Vayalur, a decade ago. The Department of Atomic Energy had also assured financial support for the project.
The villagers also voiced concern about the quality of the groundwater in their villages. Alleging that seawater intrusion had affected the groundwater quality, the demonstrators, mobilised by the non-governmental organisation, Magassol of Kalpakkam, said a check dam alone would help arrest further intrusion of seawater. Umapathy of Parameswaramangalam said the check-dam would help in meeting the drinking water demands of Chennai and its suburbs.