Pondicherry: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy thanked the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia for sanctioning Rs. 1,410 crores as the annual plan outlay (2006-2007) for Pondicherry.

Mr. Rangasamy who returned from Delhi after finalising the plan outlay told presspersons here on Thursday that the funds would be fully utilised to develop infrastructure in Pondicherry and also for ameliorating sufferings of the poor.

Mr.Rangasamy recalled that the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Housing scheme implemented here since last two years extended a subsidy of Rs 50,000 to each of the poor families so that they would replace the huts with concrete structure.

So far 1,500 families were extended the subsidy and nearly 90 percent of the beneficiaries had completed construction of the houses.

He said that every year 7,500 poor families would get the subsidy under the scheme.

More than 17,000 youths were given jobs over the last four and half years on basis of merit in various departments in the Union Territory.

Infrastructure

Development of the ports in Pondicherry and Karaikal regions, expansion of airport to link airways Pondicherry with Bangalore, Tirupati and Chennai and also establishment of a fishing harbour in Karaikal were part of infrastructural developments proposed in the new financial year.

The per capita medical expenditure the government was incurring every year was around Rs 787.

Mr. Rangasamy said the Planning Commission was impressed with the performance of the Pondicherry administration and also utilisation of funds without room for any deficiency.

The excellent implementation was one of the important reasons for raising the plan outlay for the next financial year by 74 per cent over the preceding year's allocation.

Pondicherry was sanctioned Rs 810 crores for 2005-2006.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail