Puducherry Minister of Agriculture R Kamalakannan today said the power tariff in the Union Territory was lesser than that levied in the southern States of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Replying to a question raised in the Assembly by N Ramachandran (Independent), representing the lone Mahe constituency, the Minister said the tariff was finalised by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Authority (JERA) and the territorial government did not have any role in the finalisation.
He further said power was purchased from the other State Electricity Boards and the Central power grids at Rs 3.84 per unit and consumers were levied Rs 5.27 per unit.
The Minister said the Department of Electricity here had several commitments to meet establishment charges and the tariff was fixed by the JERA and the government had no role in fixing the tariff.
He said there was a lukewarm response from the students to get coaching for NEET examination at the centres the government had opened in Puducherry and Karaikal regions.
Hence the question of opening more NEET centres did not arise, he added.
Replying to a query by Congress legislator T Jayamoorthy, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said the Centre had earmarked Rs 172 crores for the 'Blue Revolution' scheme which would enable fishermen get adequate infrastructure and other facilities to strengthen the fishing activities.
Expressing concern over the rise in burglaries in the town over the last three months, R Siva (DMK) alleged there were increasing incidents of chain-snatchings that had instilled fear and insecurity among women.
There were also incidents of temple hundis being looted by robber-gangs, he said, requesting the Chief Minister to strengthen police vigil.
Responding to this, the Chief Minister said he had asked the police to intensify night patrolling and added that the criminals, committing thefts in the Union Territory, were from other States.
Later, Kamalakannan sought to allay the fears of A Anbalagan (AIADMK) that the workers attached to the central kitchens of Directorate of Education now operating the noon meal schemewould be retrenched once the Bengaluru-based Akshaya Patra Foundation operated the scheme.
Kamalakannan said, "All the workers and staff engaged now will continue to have their jobs and no one will be retrenched.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
