Pondy eyes for 'special category state' status

Pondicherry, Aug 7 (UNI) The standing committee on home affairs of Pondicherry has recommended to the Centre to confer special category status to the UT, PMK parliamentary party leader M Ramadoss said here today.

Adressing a press conference, Prof Ramadoss said the Centre grants special category status to states with special features. Out of the Rs 1050 crore budget for 2004-05 for Pondicherry, Rs 400 crore is revenue deficit and hence it cannot survive and is not a viable state, he added.

Moreover, the four regions are lying in different areas and the Centre alone could pay attention to the UT.

Prof Ramadoss said the issues were discussed with the standing committee headed by Sushma Swaraj, following which the committee had recommended to the government special category state status. A favourable decision from the Centre is expected soon, he added.

The committee's recommendation to the government also included the granting of B2 status for Pondicherry town, recognition of scheduled tribes in the union territory, steps to develop tourism and rehabilitate the tsunami affected people, Prof Ramadoss added.

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