PUDUCHERRY: The number of two- and four-wheelers in the Union Territory has increased by 175 per cent in the past ten years, Chief Minister N Rangasamy said in the Assembly on Friday. Replying to a query from A M H Nazeem (DMK), he said the Delhi Integrated Multi Model Transit system (DIMTS), a government organization in New Delhi, has been entrusted with the task of preparing a detailed and integrated traffic management plan.
Action would be initiated based on the report, he informed the House. However, members expressed the need to lay bypass roads, remove encroachments on roads and pavements.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Rangasamy also told the Legislative Assembly that an amount of `238 crore was pending towards Tax Revenue arrears by various commercial establishments and industries in Puducherry. He said this amount was pending for a few years and it could not be collected since cases are pending in the court. To a supplementary from AIADMK Member Anbazhagan who posed the question, Rangasamy said there are 49 posts with the Commercial Tax Department. However, Anbazhagan said there was a need to enhance the staff since the collection of tax has gone up.
The Puducherry administration is taking steps in order to develop its section of the Ossudu lake into a birds sanctuary. A comprehensive management action plan for its conservation has been prepared by the Puducherry government as well, Power Minister T Thiagarajan, informed the Legislative Assembly on Friday.