Orathur Reservoir Project Stalled Amid Legal Hurdles

While the Water Resources Department (WRD) is moving forward with the large and ambitious Mamallan reservoir project to meet Chennai’s increasing water demand, another important water project has been delayed for a long time.

This second project involves building a new reservoir across the Orathur tributary of the Adyar river. The reservoir was planned nearly three years ago, but the work has still not been completed.

The project was designed with two main goals. First, it would help control floods during the monsoon season by storing excess rainwater. Second, it would increase the city’s water supply by collecting and storing more water for use during dry periods.

However, the project has faced several problems. Pending court cases and legal issues have slowed down the process. Because of these hurdles, construction work has not moved forward as expected, and the project remains stuck.

As Chennai continues to face both water shortages and flooding risks, the delay of such important infrastructure has become a concern for officials and residents alike.