Even poor families have to fire 1,000 GBP to get clean water in Pachayar Fishing Village in the village of Mayiladuthurai. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In the fishing village of Pazhayar along the coast of Mayiladuthurai, clean drinking water has become an expensive commodity. With a population of over 6,500, the village faces a serious water crisis, which deteriorates the failing public offer system.
Each household seeks to cope with the lack: clusters of plastic pots and blue drums in the courtyard and threshold are a sign of acute lack of drinking and unconsticeable water.
The Tamil Nadu Nadu Supply and Drewa (Twad) supplies water to the village every 10 days. And the water flows in dribky and phases through the taps, the inhabitants say. “We do not have enough water even for basic needs. The only upper tank (OHT) in the village is almost always dry,” says Vanitha T., a fisherman who keeps the fireplace in eight households. “We spend 900 ₹ per month only for drinking water. For bathing we buy four barrels a week for 80 GBP – another 560 GBP. If guests appear or if men in the household return from the fishing expedition, we need more water,” he says.
S. ASHA, another inhabitant, has a similar story. Her four -member family consumes three cans of drinking water a week, each selling a private supplier for 20 GBP. “He says it is mineral water. He has no label or branding, but we have no choice but to trust him,” he says. For the purposes of bathing, her household spends 240 GBP a week. “We don’t use it for washing clothes – that would be a luxury. Instead, we use physical groundwater. Even if we water them.”
Pazhayar falls under Puthupattinam Panchayat, which includes the villages of Madavamed, Tharkas and Puthupattinam. While all these villages report a lack of water, Pazhayar is the worst hit because it is closest to the coast and suffers from heavy salinity of groundwater. The situation is gloomy in the government – students do not have access to drinking water and are forced to rely on private resources.
The inhabitants unanimously point to unreliable water supply from the Twad. “We are completely dependent on private retailers. We can’t afford it, but we don’t have a choice,” Sivaranjani said.
“Water diverted”
When he was contacted, the higher official from the Twad Council acknowledged that water was sent to the village, but as the main obstacle quoted illegal tapping along the supply routes. “We are aware of diversions on the way and lack of awareness among people, which combines this problem,” the clerk said.
The chief official from the District Administration of Mayiladuthurai assured the Hindus to take steps. “We will look at cases of illegal knocking and strive for a sustainable and friendly solution to the affected villages,” he said.
Published – July 26, 2025 20:47
