In 2021, the Public Works Department (PWD) built a check dam on the Kazhuveli wetland, located in Vanur and Marakkanam taluks of Villupuram district, hoping to convert it into a freshwater lake. While it sounds like a good plan, it could spell disaster for the bird sanctuary and its associated biodiversity.
Very few people know about the PWD’s ₹161-crore project. Activists say much of the outside world has no clue about the work, as the check dam is located 10 km downstream. As part of the plan to reclaim the tank for storing freshwater, the check dam was built to prevent seawater intrusion, while a bund along the length of the wetland would contain the freshwater.
Through this project, the PWD aims to recharge groundwater for villages around the wetland and store drinking water for Villupuram. There is even a plan to supply water to Chennai, as is being done from the Veeranam tank. However, conservationists point out that blocking seawater inlet into Kazhuveli will change its characteristics and affect bio-stability of the area, declared a bird sanctuary in December, 2021.
