Sitharaman highlights Puducherry kulam restoration for water security
Synopsis
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the restoration of Muzhiyan Kulam in Puducherry, a 2-acre heritage pond revived using the ancient Naangu Mozhi design. The kulam now stores nearly 5 crore litres of water and acts as a barrier against seawater intrusion, combining heritage conservation with climate-adaptive water management.
Key Takeaways
The Muzhiyan Kulam , also called Naangu Mozhi Kulam , spans 2 acres in Puducherry and has been fully restored.
Restoration included desilting, embankment repair, encroachment removal, a boundary wall, walking track, and public facilities.
A rainwater system inspired by the ancient Naangu Mozhi design — featuring four Mozhi wells linked by underground chambers — was implemented.
The restored kulam is reported to store nearly 5 crore litres of water and recharges local groundwater.
The project serves as a barrier against seawater intrusion, a critical concern for coastal Puducherry .
The effort aligns with national frameworks including Mission Amrit Sarovar , Jal Shakti , and the National Water Mission .
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, 26 June 2026, shared details of the restoration of Muzhiyan Kulam, a traditional two-acre pond in Puducherry, highlighting its role in reviving the region's heritage water infrastructure and bolstering water security along the coast.
Context
The Muzhiyan Kulam, also known as Naangu Mozhi Kulam, is a historic water body spread across 2 acres in Puducherry. The restoration involved desilting the pond, restoring its original bed contours and embankments, and removing encroachments that had accumulated over the years. A boundary wall and a walking track were constructed, and public facilities were added to the site.
A rainwater management system inspired by the ancient Naangu Mozhi design — originally featuring four Mozhi wells connected through underground chambers — was implemented as part of the project. The restored kulam is reported to now store nearly 5 crore litres of water, recharge groundwater, and act as a barrier against seawater intrusion into the coastal territory.
Policy Backdrop
The restoration reflects a broader national push to revive pre-modern tank and kulam systems across southern coastal regions. The central government's Mission Amrit Sarovar, launched in April 2022, set a target of rejuvenating at least 75 ponds per district nationwide, with emphasis on desilting, encroachment removal, and the revival of traditional water harvesting structures.
Puducherry, as a coastal Union Territory, faces acute groundwater depletion and seawater intrusion — challenges that make the revival of heritage water bodies particularly urgent. The kulam project integrates ancient engineering principles with contemporary water management needs, aligning with frameworks under Jal Shakti and the National Water Mission.
Stakeholders and Impact
Residents of Puducherry and local groundwater users stand to benefit directly from the restored kulam's recharge function. The site's capacity to store significant volumes of rainwater and slow seawater ingress addresses a pressing ecological concern for a territory with limited freshwater reserves.
Beyond utility, the restoration preserves a piece of Puducherry's architectural and hydrological heritage. The Naangu Mozhi design, with its network of interconnected underground chambers, represents an indigenous engineering tradition that predates modern water infrastructure by centuries.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to whether Puducherry expands its kulam restoration programme to additional water bodies under a broader water security plan. Post-monsoon groundwater monitoring data for the Muzhiyan Kulam site will be a key indicator of the project's long-term effectiveness. The success of this model could inform similar interventions in other coastal Union Territories and districts facing comparable groundwater stress.
Point of View
On-ground outcomes of schemes like Mission Amrit Sarovar. The emphasis on the ancient Naangu Mozhi design also feeds into a wider political narrative of reviving indigenous knowledge systems as practical policy tools. Whether the project's reported storage and recharge figures hold up through post-monsoon scrutiny will determine its value as a replicable model.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Muzhiyan Kulam in Puducherry?
Muzhiyan Kulam, also known as Naangu Mozhi Kulam, is a traditional two-acre pond in Puducherry featuring an ancient design of four interconnected Mozhi wells linked by underground chambers for rainwater management.
How much water does the restored Muzhiyan Kulam store?
The restored Muzhiyan Kulam is reported to store nearly 5 crore litres of water, which also helps recharge groundwater and acts as a barrier against seawater intrusion.
What is the Naangu Mozhi design used in the kulam?
The Naangu Mozhi design is an ancient rainwater management system that uses four Mozhi wells connected through underground chambers to collect and distribute water, and it was incorporated into the Muzhiyan Kulam restoration.
What is Mission Amrit Sarovar and how does it relate to this project?
Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched in April 2022 to rejuvenate at least 75 ponds per district across India through desilting, encroachment removal, and revival of traditional water harvesting structures — the approach used in the Muzhiyan Kulam restoration aligns with this mission.
Why is kulam restoration important for Puducherry?
Puducherry faces acute groundwater depletion and seawater intrusion due to its coastal location, making the revival of heritage water bodies like Muzhiyan Kulam critical for long-term water security.
