CHENNAI: Even as the State Coastal Zone Management Authority accorded its clearance to the sixth reservoir for Chennai near Tiruporur, the fishermen bodies have opposed the project, fearing loss of livelihood.

In a petition to the Chief Minister MK Stalin, fishermen activist and president K Bharathi, said that the project has caused anxiety among the fishermen community and environmentalists.

Demanding that the government drop the project, Bharathi explained that the Kovalam salt pan is not only a mere water body but a lifeline for thousands of fishermen's families. "The region is a breeding ground for several rare fish, prawns and crabs. Creating a reservoir will destroy the natural ecosystem," he warned.

He added that salt pans are a natural barrier between sea and land to prevent in

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