CHENNAI: Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator Seeman has urged the State government to immediately abandon the proposed Kovalam freshwater reservoir project, warning that it endangers coastal ecology and the livelihoods of traditional fishing communities.

Seeman said the Rs 471 crore Kovalam project, proposed to meet Chennai's drinking water needs and reduce flood impact, is being planned in an ecologically sensitive coastal region.

While acknowledging the importance of freshwater storage, Seeman said the selected location would cause irreversible environmental damage. He warned that the project would destroy the area's ecological structure and severely affect the livelihoods of fisherfolk from more than 16 coastal villages, as well as indigenous Irular communities that depend on the salt marshes.

Seeman alleged that under the CRZ Notification 2019, traditional fishing areas must be clearly mapped, but in this project, such fishing zones were incorrectly shown as "vacant land," denying the customary rights of fishing communities. He also cautioned that altering the course of the century-old Buckingham Canal could obstruct monsoon water flow and increase flood risks.

Highlighting ecological concerns, Seeman said salt marshes are brackish water ecosystems vital for fish and prawn breeding and are habitats for migratory birds and rare marine species. Converting them into a freshwater reservoir would destroy biodiversity. Questioning the need for the project, he noted that the Nemmeli seawater desalination plant is already operational nearby.

Seeman urged the government to focus on desilting existing reservoirs, protecting water bodies from pollution, and improving canal maintenance, rather than on the proposed dam.