After being stalled for some months, work has resumed to create the fifth reservoir in Thervoy Kandigai-Kannankottai, located 60 km from Chennai. However, the main challenge of acquiring land still remains to be addressed.
Nearly 70% of the work has been completed for the ambitious project launched by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in September 2013. The reservoir is being created by linking two waterbodies in the villages of Tiruvallur district to store water and cater to the growing needs of Chennai.
However, the ₹330 crore project has missed several deadlines due to various issues, particularly acquisition of about 500 acres in Kannankottai village.
At present, the Water Resources Department, which is executing the project, is carrying out work to provide concrete lining on the canal that runs for nearly 8.6 km. This canal would help divert Krishna water from the Kandaleru-Poondi canal near Uthukottai to the new reservoir.
Work would be taken up in a couple of days to provide a diversion channel from the reservoir to drain surplus water into Pulicat lake, but only after filling up two lakes in Poovalambedu and Eguvarpalayam enroute. “We need to desilt the existing channel and form a new canal for 7 km to transmit excess water through Thervoy Kandigai covering a distance of 29 km to Pulicat lake,” an official said. Rainwater has already started collecting near the sluice gates of the reservoir being created. While 85% of the work to create bund has been finished, the project can be completed only if the bund is formed for a distance of 2 km in Kannankottai, where land acquisition is still pending. About 30 farmers are protesting against the move and are demanding that full compensation must be paid instead of interim compensation.
But the hitch is that the rules framed for land acquisition by the State government under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 is still awaiting approval. It has to be tabled in the Assembly for approval. Additional funds would be needed as the new act recommends more compensation.
Meanwhile, Metrowater has finished laying a 66 km pipeline to Poondi reservoir.