Pondy CM to file contempt petition against L-G soon

Speaking to reporters here, Narayanasamy listed out several instances pointing out the intervention of the Lt Governor and said she has even intervened in the appointment of the State Election Commissioner (SEC).

He said the SEC was appointed after a cabinet decision. However, questioning this, the Lt Governor had written to the Union Home Ministry and this is delaying the holding of local body elections, though, the government started the process by publishing the final list.

He said the Central government is delaying the Rs 400 crore due to the UT towards GST compensation and added that he participated in a video conference of the GST council on Saturday and stressed for the immediate disbursement of the amount.

He said Puducherry does not have any scope of collecting taxes other than commercial tax, excise and transport while, the administration has to pay Rs 500 crore loan secured from open market obtained by the previous NR Congress government by December 5. “A sum of Rs 300 crore has been paid in the month of March this year,” he added.

Congratulating Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for obtaining majority in the house, the Union Territory’s Chief Minister said the conspiracy of the BJP with the state Governor as a “puppet” in their hands failed.

Referring to the rape and murder of a woman in Hyderabad, the Chief Minister said that he had directed the state DGP to take proper steps in Puducherry by setting up a separate wing for cases against women here. He said that several murders are happening here because of clashes between anti-social groups. Anti-socials are indulging in murders on their release from jail, he said adding thatthe police were asked to identify and book them under the Goondas Act.

“At present more than 30 anti-socials are in prison booked under the Goondas Act and the Act would fall on some more soon,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that the official machinery has been geared up to meet any eventuality arising out of the incessant rainfall here. Control rooms were set up and officials were directed to take all relief measures, including pumping out of water from low-lying areas and provision of food packets to those in camps. He said since, he is convalescing from a surgery on his leg, he could not visit the affected areas and deputed his ministers to supervise and initiate relief works, Narayanasamy added.

Tension prevailed as PWD voucher employees climbed atop an overhead water tank at Sonampalayam here and organised an agitation braving heavy rainfall on Saturday night.

It may be noted that the 1,311 voucher employees of the PWD struck work and organised a hunger strike from November 25. On the fourth day of their agitation, they called it off following an assurance from Chief Minister V Narayanasamy that their demands would be considered.

They were demanding among other things 30-day duty in a month instead of the present 16 days and payment of minimum wages. They were paid Rs 200 per day now. They also demanded regularisation of their service on seniority basis.

When they resumed duty, the PWD officers reportedly gave them no work at all. Irked over this, over one hundred voucher employees climbed atop the overhead water tank at Sonampalayam at 4 pm on Saturday and resorted to an agitation braving heavy down pour.

Police and fire service personnelwere deployed at the site and the employees refused to heed to their request to climb down.

PWD chief engineer Mahalingam came and held discussions with them, but they were adamant that the PWD Minister should come in person and give them an assurance.

Later, AIADMK legislators Anbazhagan and Vayyapuri Manikandan came to the spot and talked to the employees atop the water tank over phone. But, they stood firm on their demand that the PWD Minister Namassivayam should come to the spot.

Following this, the two legislators met Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who returned to Puducherry on Saturday after a minor surgery on his leg in a Chennai hospital, and held discussions. Later, the Chief Minister talked to the employees over cell phone and assured them that a decision on their demands would be taken in a cabinet meeting after Monday.

Following this assurance, the employees called off their stir in the early hours of Sunday.