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XI Plan success depends on agriculture revitalisation: Mithi

Special Correspondent

Lt. Governor presents budget address in the Assembly

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

DISRUPTION: Watch and ward staff of Puducherry Assembly evicting PMC legislators who staged a protest near the podium as Lt. Governor Mukut Mithi was addressing the Assembly on the opening day of budget session on Tuesday.

Puducherry: Lt. Governor Mukut Mithi has said that success of the XI Plan (2007-2012) will depend on the revitalisation of the agricultural sector. He pointed out that the Government would accord top priority to the revival of agriculture.

Presenting his customary address on the opening day of the budget session (2007-2008) on Tuesday, he said that there was a proposal to achieve this objective by improving farmers' access to cheap and timely credit, and other inputs, promoting efficient farming practices, enhancing market linkages and strengthening storage infrastructure in rural areas.

Mr. Mithi said that, during the XI Plan, high priority would also be given for development of infrastructure to attract investment for industrial development, especially in tourism and Information Technology (IT)-related industries to generate revenue and create employment opportunities. Public-private participation would be encouraged in select areas, where huge investment for development of infrastructure was involved.

The Planning Commission had approved Rs.1,455 crore for Annual Plan (2007-2008) for the Union Territory, pending finalisation of the XI Plan. This was Rs.45 crore higher than the previous year. The commission had approved Rs. 71 crore under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to upgrade urban infrastructure here. There was a proposal to construct a "prestigious multi-storied multi-enterprises building with 1,81,576 sq ft" involving an allocation of Rs.25.03 crore at the IT park in Pillaichavady to provide impetus to the IT sector. Revised IT policy would be announced shortly, he noted.

The Rajiv Gandhi Knowledge Village would be established next year to impart high-end IT training at all levels. Common Service Centres would be set up in all revenue villages during the XI Plan to provide internet access and e-governance services at affordable costs.

Mithi said that with two third of the population living in urban areas, development of urban infrastructure was equally important. Underground sewerage schemes would cover all urban areas of Puducherry and Karaikal. He said that special attention would be paid for the development of Karaikal. A high-level committee would closely monitor implementation of various projects in Karaikal district funded under the State plan.

The Government would create a favourable environment for speedy and sustainable socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes. The planning and monitoring mechanism had been strengthened by declaring Adi Dravidar Welfare Department as the nodal department to look after Scheduled Castes sub-plan. Mr. Mithi said that law and order situation was well under control during 2006-2007. The Government had proposed to constitute a Police Housing Society. Computerisation of all police stations in Puducherry was being taken up under Central assistance at a cost of Rs 1.57 crore. A marine police station had been set up in Karaikal.

It was proposed to have one such station each in Puducherry, Mahe and Yanam. Plan allocation would be enhanced for universalisation of secondary education and strengthening school infrastructure. Speaker R Radhakrishnan read out the Tamil version of the Lt Governor's address.

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