AIADMK: organise agitation against land acquisition

Puducherry, Feb 12: Opposing the acquisition of fertile lands by Puducherry administration for setting up of port, satallite town, Special Economic Zone and Air port, AIADMK state secretary A Anbazhagan MLA said the party would organise agitations against it.

Addressing a newsconference here today, Mr Anbazhagan said while Congress president Ms Sonia Gandhi had exhorted to protect fertile lands, Chief Minister N Rangasamy was functioning as if the advice was not binding to him.

Stating that administration was all set to acquire 700 acres of fertile land in Karaikal for the airport, he said the Karaikal unit of the party would organise an agitation there shortly.

The party would also organise agitations in Puducherry against setting up of satallite towns he said and added that the agriculturists were now selling off their lands to very meagre prices for fear that the government might acquire it. The Chief Minister was not responding properly on this issue, he allegd.

He said as many as 86,348 persons were getting old age pension and 19,000 handicapped assistance. Mr Rangasamy, about 20 months back, had announced the enhancement of old age pension from Rs 400 to Rs 500 and without implementing it was again enhanced to Rs 600 eight months back, Mr Anbazhagan alleged.

Neither the enhancement was implemented nor the case of the new applicants considered by the Women and Child Development Department.

As many as 25 new schemes announced in the last budget, were yet to be implemented he said and added that the women's wing of the party would picket the Department on February 21.

Mr Anbazhagan said not only in filling employment opportunies, but also in implimenting schemes, the government was showing discriminations and pointed out that 8500 persons were benefitted under the Kamaraj Housing Scheme in the constituencies of the then Housing Minister Namasiyam and Speaker R Radhakrishnan while the Opposition legislators were neglected.

UNI