Pondy woos entrepreneurs with subsidies

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, SEPT. 5. The Chief Minister, Mr P. Shanmugham, today said to attract investments and step up industrial growth in Pondicherry, the Government proposed subsidies for industries in thrust areas of IT, electronics, bio-technology and food processing.

Scheduled caste women entrepreneurs would also be given capital investment subsidy subject to certain conditions.

An Industry Facilitation Council had been formed to overcome difficulties of small scale units in realising their dues for supply of material to bigger units, Mr. Shanmugham said.

The council would function as an arbitrator to settle disputes over payment of bills. The Union Power Ministry had asked the National Thermal Power Corporation to study the feasibility of a coal-based power plant with a capacity of 500 mw to 1000 mw to be set up in Karaikal. The NTPC would carry out the study at its own cost.

Budget highlights

It was proposed to distribute vegetable minikits and fruit seedlings on subsidy. The budget also proposed to convert farm clinics into rural information centres.

Fisheries:

The Chief Minister said a Fishing Harbour Management Authority would be set up. Marine communication equipment would be supplied at subsidised rates. The setting up of a Fisheries Cooperative Bank was under consideration, he said adding a pasteurisation plant with processing capacity of 10,000 litres per day for Karaikal was proposed. A Rs one crore project would be implemented to connect Vazhudavur Road with NH-45A via Reddiarpalayam. The Chambra Chalakkara road and the Vayalalam- Pandakkal road in Mahe would be improved at Rs. 40 lakhs.

A provision of Rs two crores was made for rain water harvesting and recharging of the groundwater. It was planned to construct flyovers for traffic decongestion.

Health:

The Chief Minister said bed strength in general hospital in Pondicherry would be increased from 640 to 760. The Mahe General Hospital would be provided with an AC ambulance and medical equipment on an outlay of Rs 78 lakhs. Yanam would have a new hospital campus on an outlay of Rs. 1.8 crores.

Panchakarma therapy would be started in the PHC at Kosapalayam. Construction of the software technology park Phase Two on an outlay of Rs. eight crores would be taken up in Kalapet, he said.

The budget proposed creation of the Port Development Corporation and development of infrastructure in local port to boost import and export. The development of the Karaikal port with NRI participation was under consideration.

The Oussudu lake would be developed into a picnic spot and flood lighting of heritage buildings, monuments, important temples and churches would be taken up. Cash awards would be hiked to Rs 50,000 from Rs 25,000 for first ranker in public examinations. The second and third rankers would be given Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000.

At an outlay of Rs. one crore, drinking water and toilet facilities would be provided in schools. Karaikal would have a District Institute of Education and Training. Indigent Tamil scholars would get Rs 1000 per month against Rs 750.

Pondicherry would be developed as a world heritage city with UNESCO assistance. Rs 300 would be given as assistance to physically handicapped persons. An anganwadi staff welfare fund would be set up, the Chief Minister said.

Non SC girl students studying in sixth to tenth standards and from below poverty line families would be given the retention scholarship of Rs 250 per annum.

Police stations in Mettupalayam and Villianoor would be housed in new buildings. Police Welfare fund would be sanctioned Rs 10 lakhs from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

The Chief Minister announced a scheme for mediapersons. In view of the importance of the role of scribes and to promote their welfare, a pension-linked insurance scheme for the accredited media personnel was proposed in the budget. Those who had put in ten years of service would be benefited under the scheme. An ex- gratia assistance to a maximum of Rs. one lakh would be granted and rules in this regard were being framed, he said.

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