Puducherry’s Blue Future: A ₹534 Crore Leap Toward Water Security

The Government of Puducherry has proposed a project to modernise and rehabilitate water supply sources and systems in urban areas with financial assistance of ₹534 crore from Agence Française de Développement (AFD), a French public financial institution.

Puducherry, a popular tourist destination, has been experiencing rapid urban growth, with the Pondicherry Urban Agglomeration Area (PUAA) expected to serve about 4.24 lakh households by 2055, up from 2.31 lakh in 2025. At present, the area relies largely on groundwater for drinking water, with 346 tubewells currently in operation.

The region’s daily water demand stands at around 140 million litres and is projected to rise to 252 million litres by 2055, potentially creating a supply deficit of about 218 million litres per day. To address this, the proposed project includes the development of water supply schemes, new groundwater extraction units, and extensive transmission infrastructure. Planned works include the construction of a new 30 MLD water treatment plant and pipelines connecting water sources to treatment facilities.

The initiative aims to reduce dependence on groundwater, increase the use of surface water, and improve the quality, reliability and sustainability of water supply for nearly nine lakh people in Puducherry’s urban and suburban areas over the next three years.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.