The Hindu : Power reforms with social justice: Malkani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

Power reforms with social justice: Malkani

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry March 27 . The Lt. Governor, K. R. Malkani, said his government was committed to power reforms without losing sight of social justice and needs of the poor and the less privileged.

Presenting his customary address to the Territorial Assembly on the opening day of the budget session today, Mr. Malkani claimed power situation in the Union Territory was stable and satisfactory.

At present, Pondicherry had firm allocation of 197 mw from various Central generating stations and it was expected that it would get an additional 146 mw in the next three to four years. Of this, 16 mw would be made available immediately from the Thermal Station-I expansion of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation.

The 32.5 mw gas-based power plant in Karaikal generated 250 million units of electricity during the current financial year and achieved 103.58 per cent plant load factor during January 2003.

On the water front, he said the ingress of saline water into ground water aquifers, especially in the coastal belt, was a matter of great concern.

Development of surface water sources through rainwater harvesting was being taken up to reduce reliance on groundwater and thereby halting the process of saline water intrusion.

A detailed project report involving Rs.3.81 crores had been prepared for establishing a surface water treatment plant utilising water from the Oussudu tank for drinking water supply.

The proposal to erect a treatment plant of 1.2 million litres per day capacity at Neravy (in Karaikal) was in progress under the Prime Minister's Gramodaya Yojana at a cost of Rs 1.10 crores.

A project costing Rs 11.65 crores to augment water supply to the Mahe region from the Anjarakandy system of Kerala had been taken up for implementation.

The proposal for receiving water through the French channel in the Yanam region and the Adivipolam channel there would be implemented.

Mr. Malkani said that the 10th Plan envisaged that poverty in Pondicherry would come down to 7.72 per cent by 2006-2007. The document entitled Vision 2020 for Pondicherry prepared by the Madras School of Economics which had since been released envisaged that Pondicherry economy in the next decade could grow at the rate of eight per cent per annum and much of the growth would be in the secondary and tertiary sectors.

Farmers in Karaikal hard hit

Mr. Malkani said the Cauvery water dispute had gone to the extent of disrupting peace and harmony in the Southern region. He referred to the deliberations at the Governors conference held in New Delhi in January this year on the proposal of inter-linking the river system to bring a long-lasting solution to the problem.

Farmers in Karaikal region were severely affected by non-release of Cauvery water for irrigation from the Mettur reservoir for kuruvai and samba.

As a result of the measures taken by the Government, 50 per cent of standing crops was saved.

An agreement for sharing Pennayar river water at Sornavour anicut between Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry was under finalisation. Action had been initiated for mutual settlement through bilateral discussions with Andhra Pradesh in the matter of sharing of Godavari river water for the Yanam region.

A new programme to provide one-stop solution to farmers on farm management through Uzhavar Udhaviyagams had been launched in the current financial year.

Pro-active industrial policy

On industrial development, he said the government would pursue a pro-active industrial policy to attract entrepreneurs for setting up new industrial units which are pollution-free, sustainable and which have great export potential.

As a result of sustained efforts, Pondicherry would be connected with the rest of the country through a broad gauge railway line very soon.

]The Ministry of Railways had been requested to complete the extension of railway line to Karaikal at the earliest.

The Government would vigorously pursue with the Railway Ministry to extend the proposed Nagoor-Karaikal broad gauge line up to Mayiladuthurai via Tirunallar.

The Union Territory was already moving close to achieve the goal set under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan for universalisation of elementary education.

The intensive leprosy control measures had enabled the government to reduce the leprosy prevalence rate from 2.7 per 10,000 population in 2001-2002 to 1.41 per 10,000 by the end of February this year.

The Speaker, M. D. R. Ramachandran, read out the Tamil version of Mr. Malkani's address in English.

Tributes to Krishan Kant

Mr. Malkani expressed deep condolences on the demise of Krishan Kant, Vice-President of India and Chancellor of the Pondicherry University, while in office.

In the very opening part of his address, Mr. Malkani described Krishan Kant as a great freedom fighter and a statesman.

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