Puducherry, April 25. Chief Minister N Rangaswamy has urged the Union Government to grant statehood for Puducherry.
In a memorandum submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Puducherry Airport on Sunday evening, Rangaswamy said the demand for statehood is a long pending one. With less powers, the Union Territory could not generate new employment opportunities, bring in more industries and develop tourism infrastructure, he said the government had sought an additional fund of Rs 2000 crore this year.
The Chief Minister said if GST compensation was not extended, UT of Puducherry will be in deep trouble. Rangaswamy said the Central grant which was Rs 1,874 crore last year was reduced to Rs 1,724 crore which is less by Rs150 crore. He also demanded that 100 percent grant be provided to the UT as in other Union Territories. The Chief Minister said 395 acres of land need to be acquired from Tamil Nadu and another 30 acres from here for the expansion of Puducherry Airport for which Rs 425 crore is required.
He also urged to provide Rs.300 crore for the construction of a new assembly building, Rs.500 crore to develop the infrastructure of hospitals, Dental college and Government medical college here, Rs 500 crore for the revival of several defunct mills, Rs.186.50 crore to compensate the disbursement of 7th pay commission recommendations to the government employees and Rs.150 crore for repairing roads damaged in last year’s rain and flood.