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Puducherry to have its own Electricity Board

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherrygovernment will shortly set up a separate electricity board or corporation to ensure effective distribution of power and financial management in the sector, Minister for Industry and Electricity V.Vaithilingam announced in the Assembly on Wednesday.

Replying to the discussions on the related demands, he said that the government would not adopt a piecemeal approach to enhance the capacity for power distribution by acquiring new transformers and setting up sub-stations in the urban areas at the total cost of Rs.95 crore. In Karaikal region, steps would be taken to enhance the performance by implementing a Rs.120-crore project, he added.

He expressed the hope that the government would be able to raise loan from the Rural Electrification Finance Corporation or Housing and Urban Development Corporation as the funds were meant for development projects to be completed in two years.

Referring to the issue of billing, the government was considering the proposal to remit the amount at certain banks to ensure that the consumers did not face any problem in this regard.

The government would initiate steps to establish an electricity board or corporation in accordance with law, he said, adding that a consultant also would be appointed.

Sale of cement through Puducherry Agro Products, Food and Civil Supplies Corporation at the rate of Rs.215 per bag on a trial basis would commence on May 15, he said, adding that the cement was imported from Pakistan.

The Non-Resident Indian Cell would attract investments through non-back-ended tax concessions, Mr.Vaithilingam said.

The government would retain 5 per cent of its subsidy on investments to ensure that the locals were given jobs adequately in the new units. The amount would be released only after the management submitted the identity cards of the local workers, he added.

There were 315 pending cases of non-performing assets in the Puducherry Industrial Promotion, Development and Investment Corporation, he said the government would announce a package for reducing the NPA with a view to providing relief to the investors.

The government would grant 2 per cent discount for prompt payment of the loan availed by them, he added.

The Department of Agriculture would purchase more farm machineries for in view of dearth of farm workers, he said, adding that seed money would be provided for the farmers’ self-help groups. He also announced that the government’s decision to set up godowns in all the Assembly segments at the rate of one godown for each segment at the cost of Rs.15 lakh to store 1000 bags of food grains.

Horticultural societies would be formed at the commune, regional and UT levels. The botanical garden would be developed to attract more tourists, he said.

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