DESCRIPTION OF

THE STUDY AREA

- S;ro Brundtlanii, Our Common Future

CHAPTER V
STUDY AREA
5.1 LOCATION

The Union Territory of Pondicherry is comprised of four interspersed geographical

entities namely Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanarn. Pondicherry region is the
largest of the four. and is situated on the Corarnandal Coast between 1 l o 45' and 1 2 O
0' North Latitude and 79' 37' and 79' 50' East longitudes. The region covers 293 sq.

km. (60.66% of the U.T.), consisting of five "Communes" (Derived from French
word, meaning rural settlements) viz. Ariyankuppam, Bahour, Mannadipet,
Nettapakkam and Villiyanur Commune and two Municipalities (Urban settlements)
viz. Pondicherry and Oulgaret Municipality. It is surrounded by Bay of Bengal on

the East, Cuddalore District on the South and Villupurarn District on the North and
West sides (Fig.5.1).
5.2. CLIMATE

I'he climate of Pondicherry region is humid and tropical. The mean monthly
temperature ranges from 22OC to 33OC and maximum temperature is observed during
the months of May and June and minimum during December and January. The
relative humidity varies between 70% and 85% and it is highest during the months of
December and January and lowest during the month of June.
'The average annual rainfall in Pondicherry is about 1254 mm (1960-2000). The

region receives rainfall from both SW and NE monsoons with annual rainfall
spreading over a period of seven months. The North East monsoon during October to
December constitutes 62% of the annual rainfall and the South West monsoon
prevailil~gfrom June to September accounts for 28% and (Table 5.1).

A study of the distribution of rainfall (Central Ground Water Board, 1993) reveals
that there is a decrease in the rainfall from East to West, i.e., from about 1300 mm

near the coast on the East to 1100 rnm in the Western and North Western border. The

precipitation increases from West to East during South West monsoon where as the
reverse occurs during the North East monsoon.
Table 5.1. Rain fall data of Pondicherry Region (1999-2003)

Monthly total rainfall (mm)

Year Jan

Feb

6.5

0.6

1999

Mar Apt May Jun Jul

0.0 53.0 13.7 61.3 72.6

Oct

Nov

Dec

Aug

Sep

78.4

24.9 439.5 284.5 297.4

2000 41.4 236.7

0.0 34.1

12.9 29.0 20.9

7.4

0.0 43.1

52.2 27.9 124.1 136.9 107.3 227.1 121.3 101.1

2001

0.0

2002 38,7 80.3

12003 0.0

0.0

82.6 202.1 157.9 171.6 177.0

0.0

1.3

24.6 42.7 57.8

2.9

1.2

49.3 11.6 76.9 167.3 76.2 206.8 514.7 28.1

Number of rainy days (2.5 mm and above)

Source: Indian Meteorology Department, Chennai

69.5

59.8 242.4 212.6 121.9

The wind frequency classification in terms of different wind speed categories and 16
wind directions are given for summer, pre-monsoon and winter seasons in the
Appendix 5.1, 5.2 and 5-3 respectively. The predominant wind direction is from SW
during summer and SW monsoon seasons. During NE monsoon season, the wind
direction is variable, while during the winter season, the NNE-ENE direction is
predominant (33.4%). Wind roses are drawn on the basis of three hourly data
collected for a period of one year. The wind roses are drawn for June, August, and
January, which are representative of summer, pre-monsoon and winter seasons
respectively and presented in Fig.5.2.
5.3 POPULATION

The population of U.T. of Pondicherry as per 2001 census is 9,73,829. Out of this the

population of Pondicherry region is 7,35,004 (75% of U.T.) with an urban population

of 5,05.7 1 5 (3 1% of the total population) and rural population of 229289 (68.8%).

The average density of population in Pondicherry region is 2534 persons per sq.km.,
which is about 6.8 times higher than the National average of 324 persons1 sq.km. The
average population growth rate of Pondicheny region is 2.7% Literacy in
I'ondicherry region is 80.90%,
5.4 PHYSIOGRAPHY

Thc Pondicherry region in general is a flat plain with an average elevation of about

15 m above the mean sea level (MSL). The terrain becomes little undulating with
prominent high grounds varying from 30 to 45 m above the MSL towards interior
North and North Western part of the region. There are three major physiographic

units: Coastal Plain, Alluvial plain and Uplands.

I'he coastal plain extends as a narrow stretch of 400 to 600 m width on the Eastern
part of the region along the Bay of Bengal. The major part of the plain comprises of
gently sloping land with a chain of sand dunes extending all along the coast. Other

characteristic physiographic units of the coastal plains such as spit bars, mud flats.
lagoons and tidal inlets also occur in the study area to a limited extent.

he alluvial plain, which occupies major portion of Pondicheny region is, formed

due to two major rivers namely Gingee and Ponnaiyar River that pass through the
area. This is covering Bahoor, Nettapakkam, Ariyankuppam, Southern part of

~annadipetand Villianur and part of Oulgaret municipality on the South. The

alluvial plain is generally a monotonous plain with a slope ranging from 1 to 3%.
The land in this plain is intensively cultivated throughout the year by tank and lift

irrigation. Besides the river and major canals, there are depressions acting as storage
tanks, which are spread all over the terrain to serve as surface water reservoirs.
Towards the North West and North East of Pondicheny region (covering Northern
part of Mannadipet and Villianur Communes and Oulgaret Municipality) undulating

high ground occurs with elevations of about 30 to 45 m above MSL. These are
known as uplands and are intersected by a number of gullies and deep ravines giving
rise to bad land topography. A patch of gently sloping fossili ferous limestone terrain
also exists in the Northwestern portion of this region.

In spite of limited land area in the Pondicherry region, it exhibits a wide variety of

soils ranging from sandy soil to heavy clay soil, red soil to black soil. calcareous soil,

non-calcareous soil etc. However, alluvial soil is dominant in the region-covering

85% of'the geographical area (Central Ground Water Board. 1976).

5,s RIVERS

There are two major rivers flowing in the Pondicherq region namely the

Sankaraparani River in the North and Ponnaiyar River in the South. The
Sankarabarani River traverses about 34 km in the region before joining the Bay of
hengal. The river branches off into Ariyankupparn River in the North and
('hunnambar in the South in the Eastern part of the region. The river Ponnaiyar
forms the Southern border of the study area. The Malattar is the distributaries of the

Ponnaiyar river.

5.6 HYDROGEOLOGY

l'he sedimentary formations occurring in the entire region are represented by

Cretaceous, Paleocene, Mio-pliocene and Quaternary formations (multilayered
aquifer system). Ground water occurs in these formations both under water table as
well as confined conditions and is being developed by dug wells, dug-cum-bore
wells and tube wells.
Among the various water bearing formations of cretaceous age the Rarnanathapuram
and Vanur formations form potential aquifers. They occur in the North Western part
of Pondicherry region. The thickness of the aquifer ranges between 38 m and 98 m.

Ground water occurs under confined conditions and the piezometric head is about 20
m to 33 m below ground level. The yields of the tube wells tapping these aquifers

range between 500 to 1500 liters per minute. The transmissivity values of these
aquifers range between 92 to 1925 m2 per day and the storage coefficient value
varies from 2.93 x 1o - to
~ 1 . 3 6 ~1o - ~ .
The Cuddalore sandstone aquifer (the upper tertiary) occupies an extensive area
(65%) in this region. The aquifer attains great thickness in Bahoor, Ariyankuppam

and PondicherryMunicipalities. Also in some parts of Nettapakkam. Oulgaret,

Villianur communes and south of Sankarabarni river the aquifer has greater
thickness. 'The thickness of the aquifer ranges from 20 m at Oulgaret municipality
and 245

in

at Manapet in Bahoor commune. Ground water occurs in the aquifer

mainly under confined conditions and yield is ranging from 200 to 3000 litres per
minute. The average transmissivity is estimated as 2000 sqm per day and the storage
coefficient values range between 9.583 x 10" and 8.9 x lo4. The piezometric level in
the aquifer ranges between 6 m and 25 m below ground level.

Alluvial (recent formations) deposits occupy nearly three fourth of Pondicherry

region. '1 his is the most potential shallow aquifer system in the region. The thickness
of this aquifer ranges between 5 m and 34 m. Ground water occurs under water table
Qr under semi-confined conditions. The transmissivity values of the aquifer in the

West (Madukarai) are 275.4 m2 per day and 770 m2 per day in the ~ a s t
(~himkanjee).The water level in the aquifer ranges fiom 12 m to 15 m below
p u n d level.
5 7 GEOLOGY

The entire area of Pondicherry region is covered by sedimentary formations, ranging

in aye from cretaceous to recent, except a small extent of area in the Northeastern
pad of Pondicherry.

The oldest sedimentary formations are the cretaceous sediments of Mesozoic era and

are exposed in the North Western part of the region and Nonh of Sankarabarani
river. The trend of these formations is North East-South West. Four stratigraphic
units namely Ramanathapuram, Vanur sandstone, Ottai claystone and Thuruvai
limestone formations have been identified.
The Paleocene formations of the Lower Tertiary are represented by the

Kadaperikkuppam and Manaveli formations in the region. The trend of these

formations is similar to the cretaceous formations. The Kadeperikupparn formations
are cxposed near Pillaiyarkuppam, Sedarapattu, Kadaperikuppam and Alankuppam.
? .

1 he thickness of this formation varies widely which may be due to the unevenness of

the cretaceous basement. The thickness of the formation varies from 30 m to 130 m
at

outcrob area and maximum thickness of 450 m is observed at Manapet along the

coast in the South Eastern side.

'The recent (Quartemary) formation in the region is represented by laterites and

alluvium laterites occur as thin cap over the Cuddalore formation. Thick alluvial
deposits are built up along the course of Ponnaiyar and Sankarabarani rivers

covering three fourths of Pondicheny region. The thickness of alluvium varies from
10 m to 55 meters at different places.