'Steps to be taken for due share of Cauvery water'

Puducherry, May 4: The Puducherry administration will take necessary steps to get its due share of the Cauvery water, Chief Minister N Rangasamy told the Legislative Assembly today.

Winding up the two-day debate on demand for grants for various departments, including the PWD and the Cooperation, he said though the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal in its final award had earmarked seven tmc of water for Puducherry, the administration would strive along with Tamil Nadu to get its demanded share of 9.355 tmc water.

He said Puducherry would also file a writ in the Suprme Court as done by Tamil Nadu.

Stating that the administration was taking steps to ensure that PWD functioned in a better manner, the Chief Minister said Rs 3.9 crore was spent for the beautification of the Bharathi Park, while Rs 234 crore was estimated for construction of the government medical college building. Both the works were being done after floating tenders and there was no irregularities in it.

Hereafter Cooperative banks would not insist on security deposit from the weaker sections to get loans, Mr Ramaswamy said, adding the administration had waived the interest and penal interest of the loan of weaker sections and they would now have to pay only the principal amount of Rs 2.99 crore.y.

The Chief Minister, who announced a subsidy of Rs One lakh for developing cattle fodder, said a separate wing of the Cooperative banks would be set up exclusively to cater self-help groups.

UNI