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Puducherry likely to get B-2 status

Photo: T. Singaravelou

Giving details: Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Planning V. Narayanasamy (left) and PCC chief A.V. Subramanian addressing mediapersons in Puducherry on Sunday. —

PUDUCHERRY: The Union Finance Ministry has agreed to “favourably” consider the territorial administration’s demand to accord B-2 status to Puducherry, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Planning V. Narayanasamy said here on Sunday.

Mr. Narayanasamy said that Member of Parliament M. Ramadass and himself had appealed to the Union Finance Minister to consider the demand without taking into account population as a criterion as it was done in the case of Andaman and Nicobar.

“We had a favourable response from the Minister and an announcement may come anytime,” he told reporters shortly after attending a function at the Pradesh Congress Committee office. The B-2 status would ensure enhanced house rent allowance for government staff, he said.

Mr. Narayanasamy also appealed to the Chief Minister to carry out a complete revamp of the police machinery to make it more efficient. “There have been specific complaints about a few officers with regard to their alleged nexus with anti-social elements. A probe has to be conducted and if proven guilty, the officers should be punished,” he said.

In the wake of these allegations, a complete revamp of the force should be carried out immediately to restore people’s faith in the police, he said. He also appealed to the Chief Minister to introduce Goondas Act without delay to keep a check on anti-social elements.

Mr. Narayanasamy said the Chief Minister, at a review meeting chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal a month ago at Raj Nivas, promised to introduce the Act.

On the standoff between the government and private medical colleges over seat-sharing agreement, he said any further delay would cause hardship to the students. The government should not hesitate to take action against the errant private medical colleges.

Mr. Narayanasamy said he did not have any different view on the need to construct a government medical college in the Union Territory but was only concerned over the construction cost of the proposed Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Medical College and Research Institute at Thattanchavady.

“If reports are true, the government has proposed to construct the medical college at the cost of around Rs. 850 crore. They should think seriously whether so much of money is needed,” he said.

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