Rajagopal P Swamy (Special Correspondent)
Puducherry—Addressing the 31st South Zonal Council Meeting chaired by Union Home Minister,Amit Shah,the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry,K.Kailashnathan, presented a strategic,integrated roadmap aimed at transforming the Union Territory into a water-rich region.
Honoring his vast experience including his pivotal role in executing Gujarat’s 1,000 km drinking water pipeline grid his ambitious blue-print for Puducherry’s water security has earned widespread acclaim under the movement titled “Sabash Kailash.”
Recharging Groundwater & Infrastructure Overhaul:
Highlighting that Puducherry lacks natural surface water resources and relies heavily on groundwater—where TDS levels in some areas exceed 3,000 along with dangerously high iron and nitrate levels Lt.Governor Kailashnathan declared groundwater recharge an top-tier priority.
To achieve sustainable water security, the key measures outlined include:
*Mass Desilting of Water Bodies:Restoring and deep-desilting traditional surface water storage, particularly focusing on all 84 major water bodies across Puducherry to enhance holding capacity and naturally recharge depletion zones.
*More Check Dams in Rural Areas:Constructing a chain of additional check dams across rural sectors to arrest monsoon runoff, prevent soil erosion,and boost localized aquifer levels.
Key Demands & Regional Initiatives:
During his speech,the Lt.Governor outlined four crucial strategic interventions requiring central and inter-state support:
*Dedicated Reservoir for Karaikal:Noting that Karaikal is entitled to 7.00 TMC of Cauvery water annually but currently receives it primarily during heavy monsoons, Kailashnathan highlighted that without a dedicated reservoir, Puducherry is effectively wasting 7 TMC of water.
The UT Government is preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) with NIT Karaikal to construct a reservoir for monsoon water storage and active groundwater recharge.
*Sathanur Dam Dedicated Pipeline:Proposing a strategic intervention derived from his Gujarat experience, he advocated laying a dedicated pipeline from Sathanur Dam to Puducherry via a Joint Working Group (JWG) comprising GoI,Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry officials to eliminate conveyance losses.
*Intra-Linking Pennaiyar and Sankarabarani:Diverting excess monsoon discharge from Pennaiyar to Sankarabarani to feed local lakes,ensuring stable irrigation and drinking water supply.
*Godavari Link Allocation: Requesting an allocation of 5.55 TMC of water under Phase-I of the proposed Godavari link via the Sankarabarani–South Pennaiyar network.
Concluding his address,Kailashnathan praised the spirit of cooperative federalism among southern neighboring states,asserting that with concerted inter-state alignment,Puducherry can overcome its acute supply constraints and secure a resilient, water-rich future.
