Despite sending 5 MLAs to Puducherry House, Karaikal not getting its due share

As Puducherry heads to a crucial election, Karaikal — a district of five Assembly constituencies — is witnessing heightened political activity, dominated by allegations of administrative instability, developmental neglect, and a growing demand for Statehood as a pathway to autonomy.

Spread across Nedungadu (SC), Thirunallar, Karaikal North, Karaikal South, and Neravy–T.R. Pattinam, the district accounts for over 1.5 lakh voters. Yet, across sectors — from agriculture and industry to healthcare and governance — residents say Karaikal continues to lag behind, caught between institutional limitations and what they describe as sustained administrative apathy.

At the centre of the discontent is the frequent transfer of District Collectors. “Not a single Collector has completed a stable tenure in the past five years,” said A.S.T. Ansari Babu, coordinator of the Karaikal People’s Struggle Committee, listing a succession of short postings — from two months to just over a year. “This reflects the quality of governance. While we welcome the current Collector, the inability to ensure continuity exposes administrative inefficiency. Voters will respond to this.”

Cauvery dispute

P.G. Somu, joint secretary of the Karaikal District Delta Farmers Welfare Association, points to what he calls a systemic failure in securing Cauvery water. “On paper, Karaikal is entitled to 7 TMC annually. In practice, we receive water only during surplus or flood situations in Tamil Nadu,” he said and alleged lack of assertive engagement by the Puducherry government.

The consequences, he said, were visible in the field of agriculture. “The cultivable area has shrunk from about 18,000 hectares in the early 2000 to nearly 5,000 hectares today.” He called for desilting irrigation canals, constructing check dams, and completing the long-pending lake development project, which he said could together store up to 1 TMC of water and significantly ease the crisis. He flagged the absence of a robust procurement mechanism, forcing farmers to depend on private traders in Tamil Nadu for inputs and sales.

Industrial stagnation remains another recurring concern. J. Sivaganesh, an executive member of the Karaikal Chamber of Commerce, said the PIPDIC industrial estate in T.R. Pattinam, envisioned decades ago, remains largely underutilised. “Barely a fraction of the units are functional. No major industry has come in over the past 20 years,” he said.

He attributed this to poor connectivity. “No new trains have been introduced since 2011. Road projects, including the Karaikal–Nagapattinam–Villupuram stretch, are progressing at a slow pace. Without reliable connectivity, investors will not come.” Despite Karaikal’s potential in marine exports, the absence of cold storage facilities forces fishermen to send their catch to Thoothukudi for export. “With basic infrastructure, Karaikal could directly access global markets,” he added.

Urban bottlenecks further illustrate the infrastructural strain. In Karaikal town, five railway level crossings routinely disrupt traffic. “Each time a goods train passes, people wait over 20 minutes. This has become a daily ordeal,” said Karaikal Surya of Karaikal Porattakuzhu.

Guest house built near Thirunallar temple remains unopened for nearly a decade.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

In Thirunallar, several public infrastructure projects remain incomplete or unused years after construction. A ₹49-crore overhead water tank has not been operationalised for two years, even as residents continue to face drinking water shortages. Tourism-linked facilities, including guest houses and commercial spaces built nearly a decade ago, remain unopened.

Administrative centralisation has also emerged as a key grievance. Local stakeholders argue that district authorities lack decision-making powers, with even routine matters requiring clearance from Puducherry. “The Collector does not have the authority to take basic decisions. This delays governance and weakens accountability,” Mr. Surya said, also highlighting language barriers among senior officials posted in the district.

Concerns over public services cut across sectors. At the Karaikal Government Hospital, residents say advanced medical infrastructure remains underutilised due to staff shortages. “Major surgeries are routinely referred out. Even expensive equipment lies idle,” he said, adding that the JIPMER medical college in Karaikal is yet to be complemented by a fully functional hospital.

Social sector gaps are equally pronounced. Sumathi G., President of Karaikal fisher women’s federation, pointed to severe vacancies in departments such as fisheries. “Less than half the sanctioned posts are filled. This directly affects scheme implementation and livelihoods,” she said.

Chaos has become the order of the day inside the Karaikal fishing harbour.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Fisher communities, in particular, face multiple pressures — declining catch, lack of transport connectivity to coastal villages, inadequate drinking water, and coastal erosion. Some are compelled to venture into Sri Lankan waters in search of better yields. “Livelihood security is weakening,” she said, also flagging concerns over substance abuse among youth in coastal areas.

Amid these layered concerns, a broader political sentiment is gaining traction. Many residents now see Statehood for Puducherry as a structural solution. Greater autonomy, they argue, could enable localised decision-making, stronger negotiation on inter-State issues such as water sharing, and more responsive governance.

Published – March 23, 2026 07:22 pm IST