31st Southern Zonal Council: Puducherry seeks Centre, Tamil Nadu support for year-round water security
Puducherry has sought the Centre's and neighbouring states' cooperation, particularly from Tamil Nadu, to create an integrated surface water network aimed at securing a dependable water supply throughout the year.
Lt Governor K Kailashnathan raised the issue at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting and said ensuring drinking water security was among the Union Territory's key concerns.
Kailashnathan said Puducherry does not have its own surface water sources and is entirely dependent on groundwater. In some parts of the Union Territory, total dissolved solids have crossed 3,000, while iron and nitrate levels have also reached unsustainable levels.
"The Puducherry government's vision is to develop an integrated surface water resource system to ensure a sustainable and reliable water supply throughout the year," he said.
He said cooperation from the Centre and neighbouring states, particularly Tamil Nadu, would be necessary to implement the plan.
Among the proposals put forward by Puducherry was the inclusion of a link between the Sankarabarani and Thenpennai rivers with the proposed Godavari river-linking project.
Kailashnathan said an additional 5.55 TMC of water for drinking and irrigation could be considered under the first phase of the project. He also requested that Puducherry's proposed link be incorporated into the canal network being planned by the National Water Development Agency.
The Lt Governor proposed that Puducherry be permitted to construct a dedicated pipeline from the Sathanur dam in Tamil Nadu to meet its drinking water requirements and reduce water wastage.
He also called for a joint working group involving officials from the Centre, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to formulate long-term measures for the Union Territory's water security.
Kailashnathan highlighted the water situation in Karaikal, which is entitled to seven TMC of Cauvery water every year but receives it mainly during the rainy season because the region lies at the tail end of the Cauvery basin.
The Puducherry government is preparing a Detailed Project Report with assistance from the National Institute of Technology, Karaikal, to store surplus Cauvery water received during the monsoon, he said.
The proposed project would also use excess water for groundwater recharge, in addition to creating surface storage capacity. Kailashnathan sought technical, administrative and financial assistance from the Centre for its implementation.
Puducherry is also examining a proposal to connect the Pennaiyar and Sankarabarani rivers, he said.
"We propose to divert excess monsoon water from the Pennaiyar River to the Sankarabarani and use it to recharge lakes for drinking water, irrigation and groundwater recharge," he said.
Kailashnathan also thanked Union Ministers Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman for approving multilateral funding from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and the French government.
"This will give a major boost to the infrastructural needs of the Union Territory of Puducherry in terms of power, drinking water, wastewater treatment, road connectivity and tourism projects," he said.
The Lt Governor's speech was distributed to the media by his office.
Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy was absent from the Southern Zonal Council meeting. The reason for his absence was not immediately known.
(With inputs from PTI)
