Puducherry to upgrade power infrastructure with Rs 746 crore JICA aid, says CM

Briefing reporters on Cabinet decisions, Chief Minister Narayanasamy, who chaired the meeting said, the proposal was approved and in-principle agreement received for the project.

The cost of the project is Rs 746 crore at the rate of one per cent interest for 25 years. He also said the government along with the JICA is contemplating a solar power project here for Rs 750 crore. 

Narayanasamy said the Cabinet has also given approval for the Indira Gandhi Women’s Development Scheme under which the government would remit three per cent interest to women self-help groups who avail loan for self-employment from banks, apart from the interest concession provided by the Union government to alleviate the burden of the women. 

About 2,500 women SHGs would be benefited, he said, adding about 5,000 rural youths would be given skill development training which would ensure job opportunities to them. 

Narayanasamy further said as many as 11,000 houses were sanctioned for Puducherry under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) of which 6,000 houses were already under construction. The construction work for the rest also has been started. 

The government proposed to remit three per cent of interest in banks to reduce the burden of the beneficiaries who avail Rs 2 lakh loan from banks under the PMAY, for which the Cabinet has given approval, he said. 

He said the Cabinet has given nod for a scheme to provide financial assistance to farmers to purchase milch animals and to provide subsidy for cattle fodder and among others in a bid to enhance milk production in Puducherry. The requirement of milk in Puducherry is two lakh liters a day and the production is only 68,000 liters, the Chief Minister said, adding that the balance is managed by open market purchasing. 

It is also proposed to enhance the price of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) here since, the price is very low compared to other states, Narayanasamy said, adding that the IMFL price is 60 per cent less in Puducherry than Tamil Nadu. 

He said the price of IMFL will be enhanced by Re 1 or Rs 2 per bottle in such a way that none are affected. The Cabinet has also given approval for the total ban on single use of plastic here, he added. Earlier, the Cabinet paid tributes to former Chief Minister and DMK leader RV Janakiraman, who had died here recently.

The Karaikal district administration of the Union Territory of Puducherry has evolved a new method to desilt and streamline water bodies in the region. 

Karaikal Collector Vikranth Raja in a circular on Wednesday said the administration intends to rejuvenate all water bodies of Karaikal with the assistance of government officials and departments by voluntary contributions. 

The district administration shall identify and allot one water body to each office depending on the staff strength and the staff of the office/department shall do the desilting/revamping works by contributions of their own. 

On completion of desilting/revamping of the water body, a board will be kept by the water body that it has been renovated/revamped by the particular govt office. As the first initiative, the staff of Karaikal Collectorate have decided to revamp/desilt the Vathi Kulam at Keezhakasakudy.