A fisherwoman displays the yellowish water drawn from the drinking water pipeline outside her home in Nayakkar Kuppam village, Perunthottam Panchayat.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In Nayakkar Kuppam, a remote fishing hamlet nestled in Perunthottam panchayat of Sirkazhi taluk, the villagers are fighting a quiet but desperate battle — not against the sea, but against the water they drink every day.
The drinking water that flows into this coastal village of over 350 families is yellow in colour and, villagers allege, toxic to health. With over 40 school-going children and hundreds dependent on the water for cooking and drinking, the consequences are showing up visibly on their skin.
“Skin rashes, stomach pain, fatigue — this has become our daily life,” says Anandhavallai M., a fisherwoman. “We wait for three days after collecting the water, so the yellow sediment settles before we use it. Even then, we’re never sure it’s safe.”
The water is supplied through the TWAD Board pipeline via the Perunthottam panchayat, but villagers say its quality has been deteriorating for years. With no mechanised boats and only country crafts to rely on, the village’s economic base is fragile. Falling fish catches have only made things worse.
“We don’t even have enough to feed our families. Buying water at ₹40 a can is a luxury,” says Porkilai V., a senior resident. “We need at least four cans a week for a family of four. It is unsustainable.”
Villagers have petitioned the panchayat, the Collector, and even staged protests, demanding both an inspection and a medical camp to determine whether their ailments are linked to the water.
When The Hindu contacted senior officials from the rural development and health departments, they claimed they were unaware of the issue but said that steps would be taken immediately to investigate and address the problem.
Published – July 20, 2025 08:52 pm IST
