Houses for tsunami-hit fishermen soon: CM

Puducherry, May 5 (UNI) The Puducherry administration would soon construct houses for the tsunami-affected fishermen of Kalapet Area, Chief Minister N Rangasamy told the Assembly today.

Replying to a Special Mention tabled by Mr Anantharaman (PMK) during the Zero Hour, the Chief Minister said since the tsunami- affected fishermen had sought a safe place for constructing the houses, the administration had identified 40 acre of land owned by the Education Department on the other side of the East Coast Road passing through the seashore.

The government issued a re-tender since it received only a single tender. It would be finalised on May 19 after which construction would commence.

To another special mention from Marimuthu (Ind),Industries Minister V Vaithiingam said the administration would consider financial assistance from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to an Electricity Department employee in Karaikal who died in service recently.

R Viswanathan (CPI) locked horns with Anantharaman (PMK) over the JIPMER issue during the Zero Hour.

Making a special mention, Mr Viswanathan said the JIPMER bill, passed by Parliament, had created an apprehension among the employees about job security and transfer among other things. The Puducherry Administration should hold talks with Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss to ensure job security for them.

Anantharaman wanted to know if they was anything for discussions with Dr Ramdoss since the Bill had already been passed.

An annoyed Viswanathan asked the member not to intervene since, he was not authorisded to give a reply to the special mentions and entered into an argument with him.

With several members opposing to the conduct of Anantharaman, the House witnessed noisy scenes.Speaker intervened and brought order.

Na Ra Kalainathan (CPI), through another special mention, brought to the notice of the House the confusion among parents and students on entrance examination for admission to professional colleges here and wondered if the file on GO abolishing the examination was with the Lt Governor at Andaman or in Puducherry.

He said the government could not abolish entrance examination through a GO since it came under the general list and involved the education boards of four states. It could be done only through an ordinance.

The Puducherry Lt Governor had the powers to promulgate an ordinance on the lines of the one for VAT,he said, adding this alone could protect the students here.

A Anbazhagan (AIADMK) through a special mention brought to the notice of the menace of usury here and said several families were forced to commit suicide.

He wanted the government to enact a legislation to prevent usury similar to the one adopted during Ms J Jayalalithaa's tenure as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

UNI PAB RL HT1617