Kovalam fishermen and residents in Chengalpattu district have urged the Union government to halt a proposed reservoir project by the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department. They argue the project would obstruct the Buckingham Canal, a national waterway, impacting fishing communities and marginalized groups. Petitioners cite the National Waterways Act, 2016, asserting that altering the canal's flow without central government permission violates legal frameworks and threatens livelihoods. They seek a restraining order and an on-site inspection with a public hearing.