Mamallan reservoir project: documentation as advocacy

Water moves in two directions across the Nemmeli coastal wetland — freshwater flowing east from inland lakes and tanks, and seawater moving inland through Muttukadu estuary. Spread across more than 8,500 acres between Kelambakkam and Mamallapuram, the wetland is a meeting point of these two water systems, shaped by tides, rainfall and the seasons.

That landscape is now being reshaped into a freshwater reservoir. The first phase of Mamallan reservoir project covers 4,375 acres. A second phase is proposed for the remaining wetland.

The proposed reservoir will occupy a landscape marked by marshes, mudflats, shallow waters, salt pans and seasonal grasslands, spanning freshwater and brackish-water habitats. The wetland is also a seasonal stopover along the Central Asian Flyway, drawing migratory birds, while its waters support fish, prawns, crabs and other species that sustain fishing activity in the surrounding villages.