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Central team to assess flood damage in Puducherry soon

PUDUCHERRY: A Central team will visit the Union Territory shortly to assess the extent of damage caused by the floods in Puducherry and Karaikal regions in December last, according to Lok Sabha Member M. Ramadass.

He told reporters here on Saturday that the Central team, headed by Joint Secretary (Home Ministry) B. Bhamathi, would reach here within 10 days. Though the Tamil Nadu government was swift in seeking assistance under the National Calamity Relief Fund for flood relief, the Puducherry government had moved belatedly in asking the Centre to send a team to assess the damage caused by torrential rain during December 7-9, 2007.

Mr. Ramadass said that he had apprised the officials concerned in the Union Home Ministry on February 6 of the Union Territory’s plea for Central assistance to the tune of Rs.34.51 crore. The issue had been referred to the Disaster Management section in the Ministry, he added.

The Centre had also come forward to set up a Regional Rural Bank in the Puducherry. To be named after poet Subramanya Bharathi, the bank with headquarters in Puducherry, would have eight branches to serve the people in rural areas, he said.

Replying to queries on the recently held Planning Commission meeting here, he flayed the Union Territory government for not being transparent on the issue. Though the outcome of the meeting was not publicised through the media, it had been told at the meeting that the Chief Minister during his meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, on February 18 would strive for getting permission for a plan size of Rs.2,000 crore for the annual plan 2008-2009, he said.

Mr.Ramadass was of the view that considering the Planning Commission’s assurance last year that there would be a 10 per cent increase for the next financial year, it would be realistic if the Union Territory asked the Centre to allow a plan size of Rs.1,700 crore to Rs.1,800 crore.

Replying to a query, he said the Pattali Makkal Katchi welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement that the government would shortly announce a debt relief package for farmers. The PMK, during the coordination committee meeting of the United Progressive Alliance-Left parties on Thursday, had asked the government to make greater budgetary allocations to tackle problems such as price rise, unemployment and poverty, he added.

On the shuttle service between Puducherry and Villupuram, Mr.Ramadass said it was described by commuters as a boon. Steps were being taken to have two more stops - one in Puducherry town and another at Pallinelianur .

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