Assembly adopts resolutions against hydro-carbon project, NEXT

: Puducherry assembly Tuesday adopted government-sponsored resolutions protesting against the Centre's move to implement hydro carbon project and NEXT in medical education.

Following this, the House adjourned sine die after holding a session for two days..

The assembly has had a detailed discussion on the 'adverse' impact the proposed hydro carbon project would have on the environment.

Speaker V P Sivakolundhu said the resolution on the project tabled by the Chief Minister V Narayanasamy was adopted unanimously.

Also, the House had discussion on the 'serious implications' the Centre's move to implement the NEXT for MBBS graduates intending to go in for PG studies would have and adopted unanimously a resolution also tabled by the Chief Minister objecting to the Centre's move.

Earlier, opposition AIADMK member A Anbalagan wanted to know when the decisions of the cabinet to rename the Department of Adi Dravidar as 'Department of Adi Dravidar and Scheduled Tribe' and to revive the free rice scheme would be implemented.

He alleged that the decisions were not seeing the light of the day as the officials were not acting upon the decisions of the cabinet on such vital issues.

Replying to the member's plea for implementation of the cabinet decisions, Narayanasamy said the file containing the decision to rename the department of Adi Dravidar Welfare has been sent to the Chief Secretary to arrange for publication of the decision in the Gazette.

''It is the duty of the Chief Secretary to publish a gazette notification to rename the department,'' he said.

Welfare Minister M Kandasamy said the government would arrange for distribution of free rice to families coming under the above poverty line (APL) and below poverty line (BPL) families shortly.

''There would be no delay to implement the scheme,'' he said after explaining the various hiccups the scheme had faced so far.

Members belonging to both the ruling and opposition blocks referred tothe recent order of the Madras High Court and also the Supreme Court that the elected government had the full powers to implement welfare measures and that the Lieutenant Governor could not intervene in the routine activities of the government.

They said that if there was any wilful delay on the part of officials to implement the government's decisions they should be made accountable.

The Speaker said he had condemned in strongest terms the negative attitude of the officers to act upon the government's decisions.

Speaker said, ''Stern action will be taken against officials failing to implement government's decisions.