Land acquisition delays new reservoir

The ambitious project to create a new reservoir at Thervoy Kandigai-Kannankottai in Tiruvallur district is facing further delay owing to issues in land acquisition.

The upcoming reservoir, which is being created by linking two water bodies in the two villages of Tiruvallur district, will be the fifth reservoir to store and supply drinking water to Chennai’s growing needs. However, the nearly Rs. 330-crore project is being delayed for over a year now due to problems in acquiring nearly 600 acres in Kannankottai village.

The reservoirs in Cholavaram, Red Hills, Chembarambakkam and Red Hills are used to provide drinking water to the city. Nearly 66 million litres of water a day will be drawn from the new reservoir for city supply.

While the work is on to create bund in other parts, the project will be complete only if the bund is created for the distance of nearly two km in Kannankottai, officials say.

The project has missed the deadline for completion due to stiff opposition from farmers.

The delay in framing guidelines for the new Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act is also proving an obstacle to the project completion, officials note.

K. Rangan of Kannankottai said that residents have sought an increase in the compensation for the lands to be acquired. They also wanted to know about the rehabilitation initiatives as the entire village depended on agriculture and several farmers have cultivated paddy this year too.

Sources in the Water Resources Department, which is implementing the project, said nearly 95 per cent of the project has been completed. Work has been completed to create nearly 8.2-km-long canal to divert Krishna water from Kandaleru Poondi canal to the new reservoir. The water body will also get inflow from neighbouring lakes such as Rajan Eri and Karadiputhur eri.

A total of 18 cross masonry works, including causeways and bridges, are being built over waterways. If the land acquisition process is completed, the entire project will be over in two or three months, sources said.

Senthil Balaji–S.P. Velumani Interaction at Assembly Triggers Political Speculation

A brief exchange between senior DMK leader Senthil Balaji and AIADMK’s S.P. Velumani during the first session of the 17t...

Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam Petitions for Installation of Periyar, Anna and Ambedkar Portraits at Coimbatore Collectorate

Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam has submitted a petition to Coimbatore District Collector Pawan Kumar Giriyappanar requestin...

New Chief Minister’s Portraits Installed at Coimbatore Collectorate

Following the swearing-in of TVK chief C. Joseph Vijay as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, government offices acro...

Kanimozhi Santhosh Takes Oath as MLA for Kavundampalayam Constituency

TVK candidate Kanimozhi Santhosh officially took oath as MLA for Kavundampalayam constituency in Coimbatore district dur...

New Chief Minister's Portraits Installed at Coimbatore Collector Office

Following C Joseph Vijay's swearing-in as Tamil Nadu's 13th Chief Minister on May 10, his portraits are being installed...

Senthil Balaji Takes Oath as MLA in Tamil Nadu Assembly

DMK candidate Senthil Balaji from Coimbatore South constituency officially took oath as Member of Legislative Assembly t...