Kovalam fishers write to Union government against the proposed reservoir project

Residents of Kovalam Kuppam, along with those of the surrounding villages in Chengalpattu district, have requested the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to intervene immediately and prevent obstruction of the Buckingham Canal by a reservoir project proposed at Kovalam.

In a letter, they have highlighted the potential threat posed by Chennai’s sixth reservoir project, saying it will block the natural flow of the canal, a key part of National Waterway-4 (NW-4). The petition was submitted to the Secretary of the Union Ministry and the Chairman and Regional Director of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).

The residents have argued that the project, spearheaded by the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department, could severely impact the livelihood of local fishing communities and marginalised groups, including the Adi Dravidar and tribal populations.

Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, the Buckingham Canal has been declared a national waterway. Its management and maintenance have been placed under the jurisdiction of the Union government. The petitioners have said any effort to alter the course of the canal without permission from the Centre will amount to a violation of this legal framework. 

“The obstruction of these waterbodies will have a devastating impact on our community’s access to fishing resources and, by extension, our right to livelihood,” according to the letter.

The residents have called for a restraining order to halt the project, requesting that the Tamil Nadu government be prevented from interfering with the natural flow of the Buckingham Canal. They have also demanded protection of the traditional fishing rights of these communities and have urged the IWAI to conduct an on-site inspection and organise a public hearing to address the concerns of the local population.