Puducherry govt to provide free power supply to farmers

In a move set to benefit as many as 6,000 farmers, Puducherry government today announced free power supply to the cultivators for carrying out their farm operations.
Making the announcement in the Assembly, Agriculture and Education Minister R Kamalakannan said this would benefit as many as 6,000 farmers and boost farm production in the Union Territory.
Replying to the queries by members during a debate on demand for grants to various departments, the minister said the state-run Puducherry Engineering College would be upgraded into a technical university and Rs 181 crore had been earmarked for improving infrastructural facilities.
The Swachh Bharat scheme was being implemented in Puducherry and as many as 8,640 families would be provided funds in Karaikal region to construct toilets in their homes, he said.

The government aims at achieving the target of 'open defecation Puducherry' by October next year, Kamalakannan said.
Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission would be implemented from the current month.