Malpractice in AFT mill will be probed: Pondy CM

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today announced that a thorough probe would be conducted into allegations of malpractice and corruption in the now defunct Anglo French Textile (AFT) mill owned by the government.
He was responding to AIADMK member A Baskar's query, during the question hour in the assembly, on malpractices that had caused serious setback to the operations of the mill.
Baskar alleged that the machinery installed in the mill several decades ago, had been disposed of by the then Chairman of the mill for a measly sum.
"The entrepreneur who had purchased the machinery was now using it in neighbouring Tamil Nadu," he said while seeking a probe into the modalities adopted in selling the machinery.

Members cutting across party lines demanded that the Puducherry government order an inquiry into the various complaints of corrupt practices in the mill during the previous regime.
Industries Minister M O H F Shah Jahan told the members that a probe would be conducted into the allegations of corruption in running the mill.

Speaker V Vaithilingam intervened and asked the Minister to ensure that the investigation commenced in a month's time.
Meanwhile, replying to the complaints raised by members of both ruling and opposing blocks regarding poor quality of water available to the residents, Public Works Department Minister A Namassivayam informed that a major project involving an investment of Rs 1400 crores, to ensure augmented and quality drinking water to residents of the Union Territory, is on the anvil.

"The project would be implemented with the funds from the French government," he added.