Pondy PMK plea to Government on SCP

Puducherry, Mar 1: PMK Parliamentary Party Leader M Ramadass today urged the territorial administration to be prompt in allocating 16 per cent of the Rs 1,750 crore obtained as the annual plan outlay for 2008-09 towards the Special Component Plan (SCP) for the welfare of the Adi-Dravidars here.

Addressing the press here, Prof Ramadass said the SCP fund was not properly utilised in the union territory for the past 20 years. On the JIPMER issue, he said he had written a letter to CPM Leader Prakash Karat who said another meeting could be held to sort out the problem of fee structure there.

After the meeting, the Bill was expected to be passed in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha in the current session. On the Union Budget, Prof Ramadass said based on the views from different parts of the country, it was a Budget for the people and would ensure socio-economic development.

Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram alone could present such a Budget, he added.

Recalling that the Railway Budget had sanctioned four projects for Puducherry, he said the Garibi Rath connecting Puducherry and Bangalore would help IT professionals to travel between the cities and bring vegetables from Bangalore at a cheaper rate.

A pit facility would soon be introduced at the Puducherry Railway Station, he said.

Expressing hope that work on Chennai-Cuddalore Railway Track via Puducherry would soon be taken up at a cost of Rs 523 crore, Prof Ramadass said once commissioned, the travel time between Chennai and Puducherry would be reduced to a mere two-and-half hours.

UNI