Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Puducherry CM Outlines Water Measures Amid Assembly Concerns
Puducherry’s government wants to make sure people have enough clean drinking water.
Some areas have reported salty or brackish water.
The government is considering a project to remove salt from seawater.
It is also considering drilling very deep wells in some rural places.
Farmers worry that these wells might take water away from their crops.
The chief minister said water experts would help plan the wells.
He said farming would not be harmed.
Assembly members also discussed elections, hospitals, ambulances and stray dogs.
The debate was not finished and will continue on Thursday.
Chief Minister N Rangasamy said Puducherry was taking steps to provide adequate, potable drinking water.
The government proposed seawater desalination and considered borewells reaching 1,700 feet in rural areas.
Farmers opposed deep borewells, fearing they could reduce groundwater available for irrigation.
Rangasamy said hydrological experts would guide the project and assured that farming would not be harmed.
Assembly members also raised concerns about civic elections, healthcare shortages, hospital conditions, stray dogs and the delayed Speaker election.
- Who
- Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy and members of the Puducherry Assembly.
- What
- The government outlined drinking-water measures, including desalination and deep borewells, while members raised other public-service concerns.
- When
- Tuesday, August 25; the debate will resume on Thursday.
- Where
- The Puducherry Assembly and areas including Pandasozhanallur, Sivaranthagam, Mahe and Karaikal.
- Why
- To address inadequate supplies, brackish water and declining water quality reported in some areas.
Government Measures
Concerns Raised
Deep borewells
Government Measures
The government is considering deep borewells to support drinking-water supplies and says hydrological experts will guide implementation.
Concerns Raised
Farmers oppose the proposal because they fear it could reduce groundwater available for irrigation.
Water supply and quality
Government Measures
The administration says it has initiated measures, particularly in urban areas, to ensure regular potable-water supplies.
Concerns Raised
Assembly members reported inadequate supplies and declining water quality, including brackish water in some areas.
Public-service priorities
Government Measures
The government’s immediate proposal focuses on improving drinking-water availability across the union territory.
Concerns Raised
Assembly members called for action on civic elections, medical staffing, ambulances, hospital repairs, stray dogs and the delayed election of the Speaker.
- Chief minister
- N Rangasamy
- Proposed water project
- A seawater desalination project
- Proposed borewell depth
- Up to 1,700 feet
- Rural locations mentioned
- Pandasozhanallur and Sivaranthagam
- Farmers’ concern
- Deep borewells could affect groundwater needed for irrigation
- Other healthcare concern
- A member cited ambulance shortages at the Government General Hospital in Karaikal
- Debate status
- The motion-of-thanks debate was inconclusive and will resume Thursday
