PUDUCHERRY: The AIADMK regime in neighbouring Tamil Nadu is setting an example for the Congress government in the Union Territory.
On the lines of the former’s Amma cement, the Puducherry government is planning to sell cement at subsidised rates and name it after All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi.
Welfare Minister M Kandasamy announced the government’s plan in the Assembly on Tuesday after AIADMK floor leader A Anbazhagan raised the issue of non-availability of construction materials, particularly sand and cement, during the zero hour.
Replying to Anbazhagan, PWD minister A Namassivayam said the resources for sand had diminished and the Union Territory was depending on Tamil Nadu for sand to undertake construction works.
Steps would be taken to make sand available after talks with Tamil Nadu authorities, he said, accepting the cooperation offered by Anbazhagan in this respect.
As regards cement, Kandasamy said since it is not manufactured in Puducherry, a discussion with dealers would be arranged to ensure its availability at a subsidised cost.
“The subsidised cement scheme will be named after Congress president Sonia Gandhi,” the Wlfare Minister announced.
Chief minister V Narayanasamy said he had raised the issue of non-availability of sand in the Southern States Chief Ministers’ Conference held under the chairmanship of Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Thiruvananthapuram one-and-a-half-months back, after which Tamil Nadu Minister D Jayakumar assured to provide sand for Puducherry.
Narayanasamy said that the government would write to him to take action and added that cement would be procured from the manufacturers and sold at a subsidised price and the product would be named after his leader Sonia Gandhi.
Earlier, AIADMK leader Anbazhagan said that the cement was sold at a high rate of about `400 per 50 kg bag and has caused a slump in construction activity and loss of work for labourers.
The underprevileged sections were unable to construct houses, he said, claiming that cement was available at `150 per bag for low income groups through Amma cement scheme in Tamil Nadu.