Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa laid the foundation for creation of a new reservoir in Tiruvallur district, by merging the lakes in Kannankottai and Thervoykandigai villages, at an expenditure of `330 crore. Laying the foundation on September 11, she inspected the design for the new reservoir.
The reservoir will have a storage capacity of one tmc if water is filled twice in a year. The new facility will help check rainwater from flowing out to the sea and to store Krishna water received from Andhra Pradesh. The new reservoir will augment the resources for providing drinking water to the Chennaiites.
The incumbent government has been taking steps to store more water in all lakes of the State and to create new reservoirs so that drinking water requirements of the people are fulfilled. At present the reservoirs at Poondi, Redhills, Chembarampakkam and Sholavaram cater to the drinking water requirements of the Chennai residents. Chennaiites get water through New Veeranam Scheme as well. The new reservoir in Tiruvallur is likely to meet the water demand of a growing population in the city.
PWD Minister KV Ramalingam, Chief Secretary Sheela Balakrishnan, PWD Secretary M Saikumar and senior officials were present on the occasion.