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Airport runway to be expanded

Special Correspondent

Rs. 19.27 crore for land acquisition

Puducherry: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy told the Assembly on Tuesday that he had sought the cooperation of Tamil Nadu Government for availability of of land for the expansion of the Puducherry airport runway.

He told A. Anabalagan (AIADMK) and P. R. Siva (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had assured that the site needed for the expansion of the runway, within Tamil Nadu border, would be provided.

Mr. Rangasamy said the Puducherry Government, on its part, would acquire a 20 hectare site within the Puducherry State limits and Rs. 19.27 crore would be spent on acquisition of land. Once the runway was expanded, the airport would be able to operate 60-seater aircraft from Puducherry.

Airport for Karaikal

Replying to a plea from Mr. Siva, the Chief Minister said an airport would be set up in Karaikal and 650 acres would be acquired for the purpose. The airport in Karaikal would go on stream in the next two years.

Aid to aged persons

The Chief Minister told N. Anandhu (PMC) that the monthly assistance to aged persons would be Rs. 600 against Rs. 500 available so far. He said all applications now pending for disposal before the Government for sanction of the assistance would be cleared soon.

A. Anbalagan (AIADMK) protested against government officials visiting the tsunami-hit coastal villages to ascertain whether the money given as relief was used for purchase of the boats or nets. He said the visit of the staff was due to complaints made by party functionaries to the Centre. Mr. Anbalagan said such visit of the officials was irking the people in distress.

Fisheries training institute

M O H F Shahjahan told M. V. Omalingam (AIADMK) that a fisheries training institute would be started in Karaikal and the institute would have premises constructed at a cost of Rs 92.50 lakh.

V. K. Ganapathy (Puducherry Munnetra Congress), P R Siva (MDMK) and A. Marimuthu (Independent) urged the Government to ply mini-buses in Karaikal as most of the interior villages had no town bus services. Mr. M. O. H. F. Shahjahan said the Puducherry Road Transport Corporation had a plan to engage private players on contract basis to operate the services.

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