Pondy govt must tap rainwater in its buildings: BJP

In a statement, Saminathan said several water sources in Puducherry, including the Ossudu lake which was a prime source, have dried up as the government failed to show any interest in rain water harvesting.

“In the past 50 years, 90 per cent of the lakes, tanks and ponds were allegedly encroached by politicians resulting in the flow of 80 per cent of the rainwater into the sea. Furthermore, the government is encouraging the setting up of industries banned in other states here and such industries are using several lakh litres of groundwater sinking deep bore wells,” he said.

Claiming that drinking water was being smuggled out from Puducherry, Saminathan called for steps to end this menace immediately.

The BJP president urged the government to take steps to create awareness on the judicious use of water and rainwater harvesting in schools, colleges and among the public.

“Steps should also be taken to recycle the used water in hotels and industries in Puducherry as done in other states,” he said.

The government should also retrieve the encroached tanks, lakes and ponds immediately as was being done in the case of illegal footpath encroachments, Saminathan said, adding that it should plant more than one lakh samplings all over Puducherry through the Forest department and schools.