Local Government and Infrastructure 

The average annual rainfall is 680 millimetres. Maximum precipitation occurs during the northeast monsoon in October (166mm) and November (195mm), when extensive flooding occurs. Lowest precipitation is June (16mm) and July (13mm), when water shortages are common. In the city water supply is provided by the Tirunelveli City Corporation from the Tamirabarani River. Tamil Nadu Water supply And Drainage Board (TWAD) is responsible for the rest of the District.

Trees have been disappearing from the landscape in recent generations, but local charity SCAD has a programme of planting 100,000 indigenous new trees and sowing about 50,000 seeds per annum. Trees increase green cover and provide fodder and fuels. In turn increasing trees brings more rainfall.

Agriculture and food processing are the largest sectors. There are also cement factories, tobacco companies, Tirunelveli is known for its educational institutions, many of which are located at Palayamkottai (east of Tirunelveli) known as the “Oxford of South India”. The District has a literacy rate of 77%, which is above the state average. As of 2005–2006, the District had a total of 2,500 schools, one university, four government colleges, eleven government-sponsored and seven private colleges.

The District population growth in the decade 2001 to 2011 was 14%, with rural areas growing at 12% and Tirunelveli City growing at 15%.

The Tirunelvlei Local Planning Authority (TLPA) has a master plan to 2021, and within it detailed plans for each area. The plan proposes an expansion of residential areas into the existing agricultural areas on the edge of the city.

In the seven years between 1999-2006 the built-up area of the city expanded by about 40 sq.km, while agricultural land declined almost 75 sq.km and water bodies reduced by 21sq.km. Much of the land built upon was previously used to feed the local population.

Tirunelveli entered Prime Minister Ghodi’s recent Smart City Challenge, and was ranked 56th nationally. The bid was based on a widespread public consultation including social media, and proposed pedestrianisation around the temple area and construction of a Non-Motorised Transport corridor to promote walking, as well as a new settlement of 250 acres within 10km of the city’s boundaries.