Sitharaman highlights Puducherry pond revival for water security
Synopsis
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spotlighted the revival of Muliyan Kulam, a 2-acre ancient pond in Puducherry restored with its original 'four-language' rainwater design. The project stores nearly 5 crore litres of water, raises groundwater levels, and guards against seawater intrusion along the coastal Union Territory.
Key Takeaways
Muliyan Kulam , a 2-acre traditional pond in Puducherry , has been fully desilted and restored to its original capacity.
Encroachments were cleared and new public infrastructure — boundary wall, walkway, and amenities — has been added.
The pond incorporates an ancient Nangu Mozhi ('four-language') design with four interconnected wells linked by underground chambers.
The restored pond can store nearly 5 crore litres of water, helping recharge groundwater and resist seawater intrusion.
The project aligns with the Centre's Jal Shakti Abhiyan focus on reviving traditional water bodies for coastal water security.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the restoration on 26 June 2026 as part of a thread on heritage water conservation.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, 26 June 2026, highlighted the restoration of Muliyan Kulam, a 2-acre traditional pond in Puducherry, citing it as a model for heritage-linked water conservation. The restored water body is reported to store nearly 5 crore litres of water and serves as a barrier against seawater intrusion into the coastal Union Territory's aquifers.
Context
The minister's post, the second in a thread, describes how Muliyan Kulam was desilted, cleared of encroachments, and rebuilt to its full original capacity. Surrounding infrastructure — a boundary wall, walkway, and public amenities — has also been added. In Tamil, the post notes: 'ஆக்கிரமிப்புகள் அகற்றப்பட்டு, சுற்றுச்சுவர் மற்றும் நடைபாதை அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன' ('encroachments have been removed, and a boundary wall and walkway have been constructed').
The pond is also known as Nangu Mozhi Kulam — meaning 'four-language pond' — a name derived from its original design, which featured four interconnected mozhi wells linked through underground chambers. This ancient rainwater management system has been revived as part of the restoration.
Policy Backdrop
The revival of traditional water bodies such as kulams and tanks in coastal and semi-arid regions aligns with the Centre's Jal Shakti Abhiyan, launched in 2019, which prioritised desilting, groundwater recharge, and the restoration of pre-modern water infrastructure across India. Puducherry, as a coastal Union Territory, faces acute challenges including aquifer stress and saltwater intrusion from the Bay of Bengal.
India's broader push to revive pre-modern tank and kulam systems reflects a policy recognition that traditional engineering — often centuries old — can address contemporary water security pressures more cost-effectively than purely modern interventions. The Nangu Mozhi design, with its underground connectivity, is a documented example of such heritage hydrology.
Stakeholders and Impact
Residents of Puducherry who depend on coastal groundwater stand to benefit most directly. The restored pond's reported capacity of nearly 5 crore litres is expected to raise the local water table and reduce the risk of saline water contaminating freshwater wells in adjacent neighbourhoods.
The addition of a walkway and public amenities also transforms the site into a community space, combining ecological function with civic infrastructure. Heritage conservationists have long argued that such dual-purpose restorations are more sustainable because local communities have a stake in maintaining them.
What's Next
Groundwater monitoring data from Puducherry will be key to assessing the pond's long-term impact on the local aquifer. If recharge rates improve measurably, the Nangu Mozhi model could be cited in policy documents as a replicable template for other coastal districts facing similar saline-intrusion challenges across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. Sitharaman's decision to amplify this project signals that traditional water systems are likely to feature more prominently in the Centre's environmental and heritage communication going forward.
Point of View
Particularly in Union Territories where the Centre exercises direct administrative influence over Puducherry. Amplifying a project that blends ancient Tamil water engineering with modern civic infrastructure allows the ruling party to appeal simultaneously to heritage pride and practical development concerns. The 'Nangu Mozhi' framing is politically astute — it roots a central government-aligned initiative in local cultural identity. If groundwater data from Puducherry validates the pond's impact, this model could become a template cited in future budget and policy documents on coastal water security.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Muliyan Kulam in Puducherry?
Muliyan Kulam is a 2-acre traditional pond in Puducherry that has been restored through desilting, removal of encroachments, and reconstruction of its original capacity. It is also called Nangu Mozhi Kulam because of its ancient design featuring four interconnected wells linked by underground chambers.
How much water can the restored Muliyan Kulam store?
The restored Muliyan Kulam is reported to store nearly 5 crore litres of water, which helps recharge local groundwater and acts as a barrier against seawater intrusion in the coastal Union Territory of Puducherry.
What is the Nangu Mozhi Kulam design?
Nangu Mozhi Kulam refers to an ancient 'four-language' rainwater management system in which four wells, called 'mozhi' wells, are interconnected through underground chambers. This traditional engineering approach allows rainwater to be collected and distributed efficiently to recharge groundwater.
Why is Puducherry at risk from seawater intrusion?
Puducherry is a coastal Union Territory on the Bay of Bengal where over-extraction of groundwater has lowered the water table, allowing saltwater from the sea to infiltrate freshwater aquifers. Restoring traditional water bodies like Muliyan Kulam helps raise the water table and push back against this intrusion.
What is the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and how does it relate to this project?
The Jal Shakti Abhiyan, launched in 2019, is a central government initiative that promotes desilting and revival of traditional water bodies across India to improve groundwater recharge. The restoration of Muliyan Kulam in Puducherry aligns with the goals of this programme.
