Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, who is camping in New Delhi, held a series of meetings with Union Ministers on Tuesday and sought their assistance to implement various schemes and developmental projects in the Union Territory.
Mr. Narayanasamy also called on Vice President M. Hamid Ansari. This meeting was termed a courtesy call. Accompanied by his cabinet colleagues — A. Namassivayam and Malladi Krishna Rao and other officials — Mr. Narayanasamy met Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar at his office and urged the Union Government to establish an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Puducherry.
Mr. Narayanasamy told the Union Minister that the UT is ready to provide land for the establishment of the institute.
Mr. Narayanasamy told The Hindu that already National Institute of Technology at Karaikal and several other educational institutions have been established in the UT.
Proposing to establish IIM is part of the efforts to make the Union Territory the “education hub” of South India.”
Calling on Union Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharti, the Chief Minister sought her ministry’s assistance for setting up permanent flood control mechanism in Puducherry.
Mr. Narayanasamy said, “We have proposed a permanent flood control mechanism in low-lying areas such as Kamaraj Nagar, Pavanar Nagar, Rainbow Nagar, Boomiyanpet and Uppalam which were frequently affected due to flood and sought Rs. 100 crore financial assistance.”
Mr. Narayanasamy also called on Union Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Pon. Radhakrishnan and urged the latter to expedite four-lane works between Kanniyakumari and Chennai through Puducherry and Karaikal.
He also requested the Union Minister to take immediate step to commence ferry services between Chennai and Puducherry.
During his meeting with Union Minister for Culture and Tourism (Independent) Mahesh Sharma, Mr. Narayanasamy also sought a financial assistance under the Bharat Dharshan Scheme. Mr. Sharma also promised to earmark funds for Karaikal under Temple Town Development Project.
