Residents of Kovalam Kuppam and nearby villages in Chengalpattu district have asked the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to intervene urgently. They want the ministry to stop a reservoir project proposed at Kovalam that could block the Buckingham Canal. The canal is a vital part of National Waterway-4 (NW-4). In a letter to the Union Ministry Secretary and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) officials, the residents warned that the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department's project will block the canal’s natural flow. This would hurt local fishing communities and marginalised groups like the Adi Dravidar and tribal populations. The Buckingham Canal is declared a national waterway under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The central government has full control over its upkeep and management. The petitioners said, “Any effort to alter the course of the canal without permission from the Centre will amount to a violation of this legal framework.” The letter added, “The obstruction of these waterbodies will have a devastating impact on our community’s access to fishing resources and, by extension, our right to livelihood.” They have demanded a restraining order to stop the project and want the Tamil Nadu government to avoid disturbing the canal’s natural flow. The residents also called on the IWAI to visit the site and hold a public hearing to hear local concerns.