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Elections to local bodies before year-end: Rangasamy

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, JULY 9. The Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, today told the Assembly that civic polls (due since 1974) would be held before the end of the year.

Winding up a two-day debate on the motion of thanks to the address of the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Minister said the Government was committed to eradicating poverty, creating employment opportunities and providing infrastructure to ensure speedy development. Mr. Rangasamy said that his ambition was to make Pondicherry a model for the rest of the country.

The police force would be modernised soon, Mr. Rangasamy said, adding that an adequate number of constables had been recruited and posted.

Economic zone

A special economic zone would be set up at Sedurapet and land was being acquired for the purpose. Asserting that nobody would face difficulty in getting an assured supply of safe drinking water, the Chief Minister said steps had been taken to protect sub-soil water. Construction of bed dams formed part of the steps to store river water to recharge the water table.

The Government was keen to revise upward the wages of textile mill workers. The State Government had set up a committee to study the feasibility of taking over the Bharathi and Swadeshi Mills, now under the control of the National Textiles Corporation. The report was awaited, he said.

Mr. Rangasamy also said a free port would come up soon in Pondicherry.

Fishing harbour

On the plea of members that a fishing harbour be set up in Karaikal, the Chief Minister said he had persuaded the Centre to approve the proposal sent by the Union Territory Administration. He said he understood that the file had now come to the notice of the Union Environment and Forests Ministry. He hoped that the Ministry's approval would be given soon.

He sought the cooperation of the people to make Pondicherry peaceful and prosperous.

The House later unanimously adopted by voice vote the motion of thanks to the Lt Governor's address.

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