PMK sanctions NIT for Pondy

Puducherry, Oct 25: Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) Parliamentary party leader M Ramadass on Saturday, Oct 25 said the Union Government had sanctioned a National Institute of Technology(NIT) for Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar together and the Institute would start functioning in the Union Territory from the next academic year.

Talking to newspersons here, Prof Ramadass said the Puducherry administration need not spent any money for the Institute and should provide only 300 acres of land. A site selection committee would be visiting Puducherry shortly to decide whether it could be started in Puducherry or Karaikal, he added.

The PMK leader said he had taken steps with the Centre for the recognition of the ST people here, to reconsider the employees central pension scheme exclusively for the textile workers and to merge all the five textile mills here.

He said an Electricity Regulatory Commission(ERC) had been cosntituted for the union territories, including Puducherry.

Hereafter, it would be the duty of the Commission to procure the required power for Puducherry from the central grid, he added.

Prof Ramadass said a finance commission to provide funds for the local bodies had been constituted and expressed hope that Puducherry would soon get funds.

On the issue of handing over the Government Medical College building to the Employees State Insurance Corporation(ESIC), Prof Ramadass said the PMK would stick to its view that there should be a medical college in the Government sector. If the ESIC wants, let them start a medical college in Karaikal region, he added. Lauding the Vaithilingam Government for the resolultion adopted in the assembly, seeking the intervention of the Centre to prevent the killing of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka, the PMK leader said the decision was taken not to appease its alliance partners, as the Centre has realised the need to act with responsibility in the issue.

He denied that the name of Villianur railway station was being changed as 'Sultanpet Railway station'' and said the Railway board alone could take a decision in the issue.

UNI