CHENNAI: Laying the foundation stone for the Mamallan reservoir, the new waterbody coming up at Nemmeli in Chengalpattu, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday said fishing rights would be granted to members of the community living in its vicinity.

On completion, the reservoir with an annual capacity of 2.25 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet would be the sixth reservoir to supply drinking water to Chennai and its neighbourhood, after Poondi, Puzhal, Chembarambakkam, Cholavaram, and Kannankottai-Thervoy Kandigai. The new reservoir would supply 170 million litres of water every day.

Explaining the historical background to the name, Stalin said the reservoir was named after Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, also known as Mamallan, who built Mamallapuram.

"This government gives utmost importance to water management, just like financial management," he said, adding that the Dravidian model government has taken steps to prevent pollution of waterbodies, improve groundwater recharge, and establish desalination plants to meet the drinking water needs of the people.

The Mamallan reservoir would supply drinking water to about 13 lakh people living in Chennai's outskirts, including Sholinganallur, Siruseri, Kelambakkam, Tiruporur, and Mamallapuram. The project is also expected to enhance groundwater recharge and prevent seawater intrusion.

As part of the project, 15 km of the Buckingham Canal will be renovated. Also, to improve the livelihood of fishermen – who had raised concerns after the project was announced – Stalin said the government would formally grant them fishing rights.

According to the details provided by the department, the reservoir would be established at an estimated cost of Rs 342.60 crore. It would be spread across an area of 5,161.27 acres, and would have a total catchment area of 41,408 hectares.

Mamallan would be able to store 2,250 million cubic feet (2.5 TMC) annually.

Ministers EV Velu and TM Anbarasan, Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, and Water Resources Department Secretary J Jayakanthan were among those who participated in the event.