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Rangasamy urges Centre not to cut financial assistance

Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy called upon Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to ensure that the Central assistance recommended by the Planning Commission was sanctioned to Pondicherry without any cut in the loan component.

Drawing Mr. Patil's attention at the 23rd meeting of the Southern Zonal Council meeting here, Mr. Rangasamy said central assistance was the prime source of funds for Pondicherry's development. Traditionally, the Union Territory was given 35 per cent of the central assistance as loan and the rest as grant. For the current year, the Union Finance Ministry had "advised us to go in for market borrowing for the loan component of the Central assistance."

This advice was based on the recommendation of the 12th Finance Commission. As Union Territories were not allowed to extend sovereign guarantees, Mr. Rangasamy requested Mr. Patil to ensure that Central assistance, as recommended by the Planning Commission, was made fully available.

He also requested the Union Home Minister to impress upon the Central Ministers to support Pondicherry in implementing infrastructure projects.

Land for airport

He requested Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to extend support for the development of an airport here and for improving drinking water facilities, particularly in the Karaikal region.

Mr. Rangasamy thanked Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy for releasing 35 cusecs of water for Yanam and for allotting 50 acres to develop surface water resources there.

He also thanked Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for providing drinking water to Mahe through the Anjarankandy water supply scheme.

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