Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has laid the foundation stone for the Mamallan reservoir project near Nemmeli, with an investment of Rs 342.60 crore.

The reservoir, located between Kelambakkam and Mamallapuram in Chengalpattu district, aims to address the drinking water needs of Chennai city. Stalin explained that the surplus water from 69 lakes draining into the sea would be stored in the reservoir. It will provide 12 crore liters of water per day, benefiting over 13 lakh residents in suburban areas such as Sholinganallur, Medavakkam, and Pallikaranai.

State Water Resources Department Secretary J Jayakathan stated that the Mamallan reservoir will supply 17 crore litres of water per day and 6,605 crore litres annually. Spanning 5,161 acres, it will be the sixth reservoir for Chennai, which currently relies on other reservoirs like Poondi, Cholavaram, and Puzhal, along with Veeranam lake and desalination plants.