PUDUCHERRY: Not satisfied with the reply given by the government on setting up of a private boat house here during zero hour, Ruling Congress Party member M N R Balan on Monday staged a walkout from the assembly.
Replying to a question from the member on allowing the setting up of a private boat house here, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said that that private participation is must for tourism development and it is there in all states.
He said 10 companies gave proposal to the government for setting up of water sports events and others and they were asked to get the nod of different departments of the government and four were shortlisted.
Of them, one has been selected. However, the government did not give permission to it and only a supportive letter was issued through the tourism department, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the government has prepared some guidelines to give permission and was forwarded to the Law Department.
After framing the guidelines only the government will give permission to setting up of a boat house or water sports in Puducherry, he added.
However, not satisfied with the reply from the government, Mr Balan staged a walkout after stating that widespread corruption is there on the issue and the government failed to order for an inquiry.
AIADMK member A Anbazhagan who along with Balan posed the question ridiculed the government for the walk out of Mr Balan and said that 'it is a shame on the Congress government'.
Earlier, Mr Balan wondered how a Director could give permission to a private party to set up a private boat house and alleged that he had encroached several acres of government poromboke land.
Mr Anbazhagan also wanted to hear from the government over the permission granted to the private party and government whip Anantharaman, in whose constituency the boat house is to be set up.
Mr Anantharaman said it was only a pilot project and if the government is no satisfied the permission to the boat house will be cancelled.
Asserting that private participation is a must for tourism development, he pointed out that several projects have been taken up by the government which are running in loss.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister K Lakshminarayanan wanted the project to be executed as a joint venture.