Villagers protest land acquisition for Tiruvallur reservoir project.

Amidst opposition from villagers, the Water Resources Department (WRD) is looking to expedite the creation of a reservoir in Thervoy Kandigai and Kannankottai villages in Tiruvallur district to store and supply water to Chennai. A major chunk of the necessary land has been acquired.

With nearly 750 acres of patta lands handed over for the project, the WRD plans to start the major work of linking the two water bodies in Thervoy Kandigai and Kannankottai to form a reservoir. This would hold 1,000 million cubic feet of water when filled twice.

The WRD and Tiruvallur district administration have been facing protests from the villagers, particularly in Kannankottai. Of the 800 acres of patta lands needed for the Rs. 330 crore project, nearly 600 acres fall in Kannankottai village. Last week, the department started the process of providing interim compensation to land owners in these villages, officials said.


THE HINDU