Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Monday announced cut on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) and made it lower than in Tamil Nadu, to attract flight operation as part of tourism promotion in the Union Territory. He also announced reduction of VAT on speakers and amplifiers to 8 per cent from 10 per cent.
Winding up the debate on demands for grants for the departments held by him in the Assembly, Rangasamy said the VAT on ATF for aircraft with a take off mass below 40,000 kg would be reduced to one per cent from five per cent and the ATF for aircraft with take off mass above 40,000 kg would be reduced to five per cent from 14.5 per cent.
This reduction is aimed at attracting oil companies to set up aviation fuel depot in Puducherry and flight operators to avail of the opportunity to get ATF at lower prices, which will also fetch revenue for the government.
Further, the minister said based on the finances available under work charge, some of the retrenched government employees would be provided employment within a month. All retrenched employees of veterinary college would get reemployment.
For medical college, the basis of the contract would be reviewed as to how many people could be given employment, Rangasamy said.
The guideline rates (GLR) for land at Karaikal region would be revised by decreasing 50 per cent of the recently enhanced rates.
Further to enhance medical facilities, CT scan, MRI scan, dialysis machine would be procured for government medical college, he added.
The minister also said that Rajiv Gandhi scheme for providing incentive to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families on the death of head of the family would be implemented in the current year. The government has received 1,840 applications and would provide the benefits.
Earlier, when K Lakshminarayanan (Cong) had urged the government to raise the BPL income limit to ` 60,000 as per government of India’s order. Rangasamy said he was examining the matter and action would be taken in this regard.
As a support to fresh law graduates, they would be provided a dole of Rs 2,000 per month for two years.