Over 25 environmental groups seek independent review panel, halt to Mamallan reservoir work
Over 25 environmental and community groups are demanding the Tamil Nadu government halt construction on the Mamallan Reservoir Project. They argue the current technical committee has a conflict of interest and that the project lacks sufficient environmental impact assessments regarding coastal dynamics.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights the tension between infrastructure development and the protection of fragile coastal ecosystems and local fisher livelihoods.
More than 25 environmental and community organisations under the banner of the Save Nemmeli Marshlands Collective have urged the Tamil Nadu government to reconstitute the High-Level Technical Committee examining the proposed Mamallan Reservoir Project and suspend all construction activities until an independent review is completed.
In a letter addressed to the Minister for Rural Development and Water Resources N. Anand, Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar, and other officials, the collective said the committee, headed by the Chief Engineer (Chennai Region) of the Water Resources Department (WRD), presented an inherent conflict of interest as the WRD itself was the project proponent.
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