Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated a new drinking water scheme via video conferencing on 29 May, 2025, aimed at benefiting 41 rural habitations in the Palayamkottai union of Tirunelveli district. 

The project, implemented at a cost of Rs 45.10 crore, is designed to address the long-term water needs of a population projected to grow to 50,586 by 2054. Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu, along with District Collector R. Sukumar and Nanguneri MLA Ruby R. Manoharan, marked the scheme’s public dedication at Palayam Chettikulam. As part of the infrastructure, six infiltration wells have been constructed in the Tamirabharani River at Thirumalaikozhunthupuram.

Water from these wells will be pumped to nine ground-level sumps, and then distributed via 159.15 km of pipeline to 62 overhead tanks, including 18 existing ones. The scheme currently supplies 2.60 million litres of water daily to 33,240 people and is designed to expand to 4.06 million litres by 2054, providing 55 litres per person daily.

The Speaker also confirmed that two major drinking water projects worth Rs 605.75 crore and Rs 423.13 crore for surrounding Panchayat unions and towns will be completed by December-end.