CHENNAI: Chennai’s dream of its fifth reservoir in neighbouring Tiruvallur district to cater to city’s drinking water needs has been delayed due to land acquisition issues.
The deadline was September 2015 but the work has been delayed for two years. Officials hope that the reservoir would be completed in the next five to six months.
The reservoir is being created on 1,488 acres (800 acres of patta land and 688 acres of poromboke land) nearly 14 km away from Uthukottai, State’s entry point for Kandaleru- Poondi canal.
The project was hit after 46 of the total 571 land owners opposed land acquisition and filed a case.
The case was dismissed and 10 of them had agreed for one-time settlement. But the remaining have refused to accept the compensation.
The issue revolves round 400 acres where villagers have sown crops. This is inside reservoir area - also known as water spread area. It is not a working area although the land is acquired for reservoir.