Home / Environment / Ecologists Urge TN Govt to Halt Mamallan Reservoir Project
Ecologists Urge TN Govt to Halt Mamallan Reservoir Project
16 Feb
Summary
- 22 experts urge withdrawal of Mamallan Reservoir project.
- Project threatens critical coastal wetland and its biodiversity.
- Concerns raised over flooding risks and natural coastal buffers.
A coalition of 22 ecologists, hydrologists, ornithologists, and marine biologists has formally requested Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to halt the Mamallan Reservoir project. The scientists expressed grave concerns that the proposed construction within the Kovalam-Nemmeli backwater system poses a significant threat to a vital coastal wetland.
They emphasized that restricting tidal flow, essential for brackish wetlands, would alter salinity and temperature, thereby diminishing marine biodiversity. The expert group also pointed out that the project site is a tidal-marsh ecotone, not an inland freshwater depression. They warned that converting it to a freshwater reservoir would devastate seagrass patches, mudflats used by migratory birds, and crucial juvenile fish habitats.
Beyond ecological damage, the scientists highlighted potential hydrological risks. They noted that the project's environmental impact assessment identifies drainage bottlenecks as causes of flooding. Constructing bunds within the tidal floodplain could remove natural flood buffers, increasing risks during cyclones. The experts advocate for declaring the area a protected lagoonal wetland to bolster biodiversity, fisheries, and climate resilience.
