The Puducherry government has secured Rs 534 crore from Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to modernise its urban water supply infrastructure. The funding will support a comprehensive rehabilitation project aimed at addressing the region’s growing water crisis.
Puducherry’s rapid urban expansion has put significant pressure on water resources. The Pondicherry Urban Agglomeration Area currently serves 2.31 lakh households but is expected to accommodate 4.24 lakh by 2055. Daily water demand stands at 140 million litres and is projected to nearly double to 252 million litres, creating a supply deficit of 218 MLD.
The region currently depends heavily on 346 tubewells for drinking water. The proposed project will diversify this by introducing new groundwater extraction units, a 30 MLD water treatment plant, and expanded transmission pipelines to connect sources with treatment facilities.
Key goals include reducing groundwater dependency, increasing surface water utilisation, and improving overall water quality and reliability. The initiative is expected to benefit nearly nine lakh residents across Puducherry’s urban and suburban areas.
Scheduled for completion over three years, the project represents a significant step toward building a sustainable, future-ready water supply system for one of India’s most visited destinations.
