Pandasozhanallur village is situated approximately 20 km south-west of Pondicherry town. It is one of the main suppliers of rice and other produce to Pondicherry. In 1998, Berger Paints set up a production plant in the village. The land was bought legally from a local farmer and all authorisations were granted by the Pondicherry Pollution Control Board (PPCB). There have been complaints from agricultural landowners that the paint factory has been releasing untreated waste directly into the aquifer, polluting the water used for irrigation and drinking purposes.