'Bring Puducherry under ambit of central finance commission'

The ruling AINRC has demanded that the Centre bring this Union Territory within the ambit of the Central Finance Commission for devolution of funds to take up various developmental works.
The party said the plea for including the UT as a beneficiary of the Commission on par with States had already been made to the Centre by the government so that the developmental activities could be taken up without any financial hindrance.
It said Puducherry should also be entitled to get benefits of the recommendation of Finance Commission on par with the full fledged States. The resolution adopted yesterday said the Constitution also presecribed avalability of privileges enjoyed by States to Union TErritories on equal footing.

AINRC General Secretary V Balan, MLA, said the meet also adopted a resolution urging the Centre to waive accumulated loans of Rs 3400 crore due from Puducherry to the Centre over the years.
It thanked the Chief Minister and AINRC founder N Rangasamy for announcing modification of the free rice scheme to ensure payment of cash of Rs 300 instead of 10 kg rice per family card every month.
The CM's announcement that a 600 kilowatt thermal plant would be set up in Polagam in Karaikal region was also a laudable scheme which would relieve the region of the present power crisis, another resolution staid.

AINRC would soon work out modalities to enlarge it to make its presence in Tamil Nadu in keeping with the pleas made quite often from various sections in the neighbouring State, another resolution said.