Water quality worsens in Sholai Nagar

The condition of several dwelling units has worsened due to corrosion

The quality of the piped water supplied to the residents of a coastal hamlet at Sholai Nagar (North) has deteriorated further, forcing the residents to take to the streets to condemn the authorities’ apathy in addressing their long-pending grievance.  

The complaints of the residents are not confined to the poor quality of water. The condition of several dwelling units has also worsened due to corrosion. 

Sholai Nagar is among the areas in the urban limits of Puducherry with high levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). A study conducted by the Public Health wing of the Public Works Department in 2019 found that the TDS level in Sholai Nagar had crossed 2,000 parts per million (ppm).

In certain localities, the TDS level had even touched 3,000 ppm. The acceptable range of TDS for drinking water is 500 ppm, a PWD official said, adding that anything beyond 2,000 ppm was not consumable.

Coinciding with the Water Day celebrations on March 22, a section of residents, with the support of the local leadership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), took out a march to Raj Nivas to highlight the poor quality of the water supplied to the area.

According to Maheswari, a resident, successive governments have failed to address the problem. “We were forced to join the agitation as the quality of water is deteriorating day by day. We cannot consume the water or use [it] for cooking. Even milk boiled with a small amount of piped water get spoilt,” she said.

“The rice cooked using the water stinks after a few hours,” she added.