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Rangasamy seeks people’s support for good governance

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

TAKING SALUTE: Chief Minister N.Rangasamy inspecting a guard of honour at the Independence Day celebrations in Puducherry on Friday.

PUDUCHERRY: Chief Minister N.Rangasamy on Friday appealed to the people to “continue their support and cooperation to the territorial government for ensuring good governance.” He also made it clear that intensive steps were on the anvil to “transform peaceful Puducherry into a tourist destination in view of availability of all kinds of revenue base” for developing this sector.

Shortly after unfurling the tricolour and inspecting the guard of honour as part of the Independence Day celebrations at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in Uppalam, he said, “Now the government under my stewardship has since completed two years and entered the third year of second tenure successfully by meticulously carrying out people’s programmes and schemes and thereby fulfilled your expectations and aspirations…”

He promised that the plan allocation of Rs.1,750 crore earmarked for the development of Puducherry during 2008-2009 would be utilised fully for the economic development of the Union Territory.

On the government’s efforts to promote tourism, he said expansion work such as providing new facilities, adequate training for human resources development and hospitality craft by the Puducherry Tourism Development Corporation in collaboration with India Tourism Development Corporation were taken up in full swing.

Steps were taken for implementing the airport expansion project which greatly contributed to the economic development of the Union Territory, he said, adding that the initial work for the construction of a port at a cost of Rs.350 crore through private partnership was being undertaken at Keezhavanjur in Karaikal.

Keeping in mind the development of tourism in Karaikal, the Airport Authority of India had recommended for the setting up of a greenbelt airport in the region, he said. A survey had also been conducted for this purpose, he added.

Mr.Rangasamy referred to the territorial government’s efforts such as introduction of precision farming aimed at increasing productivity in the farm sector though there had been decrease of agricultural lands. He also mentioned about the progress of the loan waiver scheme and the income guarantee scheme for the farmers.

He spoke about the government’s initiatives in various other sectors such as education, electricity, health, fisheries and welfare.

On the mega welfare scheme of distribution of free liquefied petroleum gas stoves for below the poverty line families introduced in February, 2006 to provide gas connections at the rate of 10000 beneficiaries per year, had benefited 24,434 families having red ration cards so far.

As many as 7,500 families in Yanam and 3,190 families in Mahe region would benefit from the health insurance programme being implemented by the government to provide medical services in private hospitals in the two regions. Families in the BPL having five members each were eligible for availing themselves of the benefit under the scheme for which the government had earmarked Rs.1.19 crore, he said.

Lieutenant Governor Govind Singh Gurjar hosted tea at Raj Nivas as part of the Independence Day celebrations.

Mr.Rangasamy unfurled the national flag at the Assembly complex also. Speaker R.Radhakrishnan, Minister for Industries and Power V.Vaithilingam, Education Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan, and Legislators and leaders belonging to different parties participated in the Independence Day celebrations.

Health Minister E Valsaraj, Toursim Minister Malladi Krishna Rao and Welfare Minister M Kandasamy participated in the Independence day celebrations in Mahe, Yanam and Karaikal respectively.

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