Profile of Puducherry UT and Raj Bhavan. Puducherry is one of
the four enclaves of the UT of Puducherry and is situated on the
Coromandel Coast (east coast) of India, 150 km south of Chennai
city. With a rich historical connection to the French and being
endowed with a unique cultural, spiritual and architectural heritage,
it has become a destination for national as well as internationals
tourists who come to experience its special ambiance. It
continues to maintain a strong tie with France through its institutions
and by attracting investment from abroad. Originally
designed for a population of 50,000 it remains unprepared for the
strains of population growth and an expanding tourism industry.
As of 2011, Puducherry UT had a population of 1.24 million with
a decadal growth rate of 27.72% (Census of India, 2011). Due to
unplanned growth and development, there has been an enormous
strain on the infrastructure and environment of the city and, in
particular, on the treatment and disposal of domestic wastewater
and MSW, affecting the quality of the living environs.