The Industrial sector has started showing signs of buoyancy with one new large scale, two medium scale and 148 small and micro units starting operations in the Union Territory in the last year. The units have made combined investment of Rs. 70. 57 crore and helped as many as 1828 persons get jobs, Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh said in his Republic Day address.
In his address, copies of which were distributed to the press and dignitaries at the Republic Day function, Mr. Singh said the government had implemented various schemes and imparted training to generate self employment.
Around 2500 unemployed persons were given training in various trades. The subsidy given by the government to those establishing units for self employment was increased from 25 per cent to 35 per cent.
Listing out the achievements of the government, he said the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department and Puducherry Adi Dravidar Development Corporation have formulated plans to construct 1660 housing units in seventeen places at a total project cost of Rs. 92 crore. In the first phase, 142 housing units constructed at a cost of Rs. 8.25 crore have been handed over to beneficiaries at Ariyur village.
The agencies also proposed to construct 3000 houses per year to the beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Caste and other economically backward class people free of cost. In the power sector, the government proposed to establish a 230/110 KV Auto Sub Station at Thondamanatham and another 110/11 KV Sub Station at Venkata Nagar. While the power station at Thondamanatham would cost Rs 56.63 crore, the one at Venkata Nagar would cost Rs 54.23 crore. Both would be ready for operation by 2012, Mr Singh said.
The Lieutenant Governor also distributed awards to meritorious police officers and representatives of various schools which excelled in the SSLC and Higher Secondary examinations. He handed over President's police medal for meritorious service to Superintendent of Police (South) A. Nandagopal.
