New industrial units to come up in Pondy

Puducherry, Apr 16 (UNI) New industrial units worth Rs 41.5 crore are in the pipeline for Union Territory (UT) of Puducherry, Minister for Industries V Vaithilingam told the Legislative Assembly today.

Winding up the three-day discussion on Demand for Grants for several departments, including industry and electricity, he said one large, six medium and 153 small and medium industrial units would come up in the UT.

The administration would set up an NRI cell in the Industries Department to boost investment and convert the Industries and Commerce Department into a Technical Department from the present Service Department.

Stating that the UT had been allotted an additional 88 MW of power from different grids, he said the power tariff collection had risen by Rs 18 crore this year.

Admitting that shortage of human resources and fund allocation had crippled the developmental works under his department, Mr Vaithilingam said spot billing system would be introduced in tariff collection.

As part of cell phone allowances to the engineers in the department, a junior engineer would get a monthly allowance of Rs 500 while an AE would be provided with Rs 1000 and SE Rs 1500.

MORE UNI