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“Demand for UT status for Karaikal not acceptable”

PUDUCHERRY: Leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)’s Parliamentary party M. Ramadass on Saturday said that Union Territory (UT) status for Karaikal was not acceptable.

Replying to questions at a press conference here, he ruled out the feasibility of Karaikal retaining its sustainability as a UT. Even if that status was conferred on the region, it would become still more backward.

As it would not have a separate Assembly, even for small administrative changes, the region would have to wait for Central government’s clearance, Mr. Ramadass said.

In the event of Karaikal becoming a UT, it would suffer from funds crunch, he said, adding that as of now, it had a high per capita expenditure with 20 per cent of the funds earmarked for the region.

Mr. Ramadass attributed the difficulties faced by the region to “deficiencies in planning.”

He described the argument that Karaikal was being ignored by the Puducherry government as “politically motivated.”

However, the region had achieved significant development during the last four years, he said, referring to development projects implemented in Karaikal such as beach beautification, inauguration of a post-graduation centre of Pondicherry University and launching of the government engineering college, besides efforts being made to set up a new harbour and heavy industries.

The only way to tackle problems faced by all the regions of Puducherry was adopting a scientific approach to get full Statehood, Mr. Ramadass said, adding that it would enable the UT to get more allocations under the XII Finance Commission.

Mr. Ramadass welcomed the Government Order issued by Puducherry recently authorising the presidents and vice-presidents of village panchayats to operate savings accounts and drawal of cheques.

The government should take steps to delegate powers to these grassroots-level local bodies, besides providing them adequate funds and manpower, he said. He also urged the government to set up a panel to decide on the devolution of powers to the municipalities in the UT.

Flaying land grab indulged in by some gangs in Puducherry, Mr. Ramadass urged the government to invoke Goondas Act to end the menace.

When asked about the recent reports relating to farmers’ suicide in the UT, he said the issue had to be studied thoroughly.

The farmers were facing adversity, owing to inability to repay loan received from nationalised banks, non-availability of minimum support price for their produce, salinity of groundwater. Every year the cultivating area in Puducherry came down by 1000 h.a., he said.

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