Pondy bud session begins on stormy note

The Budget session of the Puducherry Assembly began on a stormy note with AIADMK making an unsuccessful bid to prevent Lt Governor Lt General (retd) A K Singh from reaching the Assembly hall to present his customary address and staging a walkout in the House.
The five-member AIADMK bloc shouted slogans against the goverment stating that it had failed to fulfil promises held out during the earlier sessions. The watch and ward staff, however, held them back and the Lt Governor entered the House accompanied by Speaker V Sabapathy, and other officials.
AIADMK members continued the protest as the Lt Governor started reading out his address in the House. Holding placards, they wanted the Lt Governor "to go back as promises made in the earlier meetings of the House were not fulfilled."

AIADMK MLA Anbalagan said government had not sanctioned funds to implement schemes under MLA Local Area Development scheme. The slogan shouting legislators sat in the Well of the House for some 15 minutes. But the Lt Governor went ahead with his address. They then staged a walkout but returned a few minutes later to participate in the proceedings.
In his address, Lt Governor highlighted government's achievements and implementation of schemes. He justified the government's decision to transfer cash of Rs 300 per ration card per month through bank accounts of ration card holders instead of supplying ten kg rice in Puducherry and Karaikal.

"The decision to disburse cash has several advantages over the current procedure such as transparency, convenience to the consumers in terms of procuring their choice of quality foodgrains on time and as per their requirement," he said.

He said government was adopting transparency in implementing schemes. The revenue collection was Rs 1,256.28 crore during fiscal 2013-2014 and a collection of Rs 1,320 crore was targeted during current fiscal (2014-2015).
All benefits accruing due to oil price reduction announced by the Centre had been passed on to consumers without any additional taxation, he said, adding, Government was taking all preparatory steps to facilitate smooth launch of the Goods and Services Tax announced by the Centre for implementation from 2016-2017.

An Action Plan on Climate change for the Union Territory, proposed to be funded by the World Bank, has been prepared involving an outlay of Rs 463 crore, the Lt Governor said.
The government's industrial policy would catalyse the business opportunities in manufacturing sector particularly in the area of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in line with the Centre's flagship programme of 'Make in India' which would be a boost to manufacturing industries, he said.