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Government to resettle slum-dwellers

PUDUCHERRY: The Pondicherry Slum Clearance Board will soon start construction of tenements for roofless persons residing in slums and on pavements, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy told the Assembly on Wednesday.

Replying to a question from K. Lakshminararayanan (PMC), he said steps had been taken to acquire land for constructing tenements to resettle slum-dwellers and those living on pavements.

Necessary land had been acquired for constructing tenements at a cost of Rs. 30 crore in Lamborde Saravanan Nagar at Reddiyarpalayam, he said, adding that construction work would start shortly. Similarly, tenements would be constructed at other places in the town and on its outskirts, he added. Mr. Rangasamy said all those persons without a proper house would be shifted to the new tenements.

To another query on the garbage problem in the town from N. Anand (PMC), the Chief Minister said the government was in the process of floating a global tender to hand over the collection and disposal of solid waste in Puducherry.

Mr. Anand said the members of various self-help groups engaged in garbage collection had not been paid the salary for the last eight months. Denying the PMC member’s charge, the Chief Minister said the government had given salary to the tune of Rs 1.93 crore, as on March 31.

While replying to a query on the recent hike in milk price, raised by N.G. Pannirselvam (PMK), Mr. Rangasamy said the government had no plan to roll back the price hike as it would have an adverse impact.

If the government reduced the price, the people would sell milk to outlets in Tamil Nadu because of the difference in price, which would lead to shortage in Puducherry, Mr. Rangasamy said.

Even with the current price difference of 50 paise, several persons from Puducherry sold their product in the neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu, he said.

Minister for Industries and Power V. Vaithilingam said the work for setting up the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Karasur would start in the next two months.

Replying to a query on the land acquisition process for setting up the SEZ from R. Viswanathan (CPI), he said the government had acquired a total of 309. 64 ha of land and disbursed Rs. 36 crore.

He also said the government was firm in its stand to allow industrial units that can provide job opportunities to locals.

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