'Mahe should not be annexed to Kerala'

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE, NOV. 24. The Pondicherry Minister for Health and Family Welfare Services, Mr. E. Valsaraj, today said that Mahe, a coastal strip of land bordering the Kannur district of the State, should not be annexed to Kerala as it was an ``integral part of Pondicherry.''

The opinions and proposals regarding annexation were raised from quarters outside the region with vested interests, he said while addressing presspersons at a ` Meet the Press ' programme organised by the Calicut Press Club here.

Mr. Valsaraj said that people of Mahe were least drawn to the suggestion of annexation for varied reasons including the large- scale development activities taking place in the coastal area under the Pondicherry Government.

``The per capita expenditure is high in Pondicherry compared to the other States. About Rs. 26 crores was spent for the population of 35,000 last fiscal year, '' he said.

The Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Labour and Employment, Law, and Economics and Statistics, claimed that the social status and health index were very high and on par with Kerala.

``Mahe is geographically located in Kerala. But the people comprising of Tamilians, Andhrites and Malayalees are not interested in the annexation of its territory to Kerala,'' said Mr. Valsaraj, who is representing the Mahe constituency.

He said that various development programmes had been envisaged for the people of the region including a Rs. 1.5 crore trauma care unit. The Centre has already sanctioned Rs. 70 lakhs for the project.

Steps have been mooted to enhance the drinking water supply in the region. The Centre has allotted Rs. 1.9 crore for removal of damaged and rusted pipes. Talks were held between the Pondicherry Government and the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to work out a scheme in this regard. An estimated Rs. 12 crores has been earmarked for this purpose.

Some of the other development plans include renovation of the Kumaran Master Park and the Mahe Fishing Harbour. The Central Institute of Coastal Engineering and Fisheries (CICEF) has assured support to the Rs. 13 crore fishing harbour project. Schemes would be launched in association with the Lakshadweep Administration, Mr. Valsaraj said.

He pointed out that it was difficult for the administration to set up a medical college in Mahe as per the stipulation of the Medical Council of India (MCI). But then two seats have been reserved for candidates belonging to Mahe in the medical college at Pondicherry.

The PCC president, Mr. V. Narayana Swamy, who was present on the occasion, said that the Congress Government was committed to bring about prospects in Mahe and Pondicherry as a whole.

Thrust has been given to the development of Pondicherry port, information technology, tourism sector and setting up of non- polluting industries. ``More funds were needed from the Union Government for various projects,'' he said.

Mr. Narayana Swamy, who had served two terms in the Rajya Sabha, opined that the liquor policy of the Congress-ruled States should be changed. Policies were implemented not in the ``right earnest,'' he added.

``The issue needs to be discussed and it will be taken up with the leadership,'' said Mr. Narayana Swamy, who was also the AICC secretary some time ago. However, he maintained that the liquor policy could not be implemented in Pondicherry since there are 5,000 families, belonging to the French community, in the Union Territory.

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