Chief Minister N. Rangasamy coming out of his cabin to attend the session at the Puducherry Assembly on Monday.
| Photo Credit: S.S. KUMAR

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has sought the cooperation of Tamil Nadu government in expanding the Puducherry airport runway.

Intervening during question hour on Monday, the Chief Minister said land has to be acquired from Tamil Nadu for expanding the runway. Opposition leader R. Siva and other DMK legislators should take steps for getting the land from Tamil Nadu, he said.

Responding to the Chief Minister’s statement, Mr Siva said Mr Rangasamy did not call on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K Stalin even once after assuming office as Chief Minister in 2021. “We are sure that if you (Mr Rangasamy) meet Mr Stalin, the land acquisition part will be sorted out,” he said.

Earlier, replying to a question by nominated legislator belonging to BJP R. B Ashok Babu, Minister for Public Works K. Lakshminarayanan said as per the new orientation proposed for expansion of the runway, around 217 acres of land will have to be acquired from Tamil Nadu side of the Puducherry airport. 

“The Chief Minister has written to Mr. Stalin. Our Ministers have also taken up the runway expansion project with Central government,” he said.

Caste certificate.

Making a statement in the House during general discussion on the budget, the Chief Minister said a notification will be issued to provide lifelong validity for caste certificate issued once. The decision will be a relief for the people as they need not throng government offices and service centres for obtaining caste certificate often, he said.

He also informed the government decision to issue caste certificate for Class 10, 11 and 12 students at the educational institution itself.

Cyclone Fengal assistance 

The government has decided to disburse cash assistance to people whose houses got damaged in cyclone Fengal from March 21 in Puducherry and Karaikal regions. Persons whose huts got completely damaged would get ₹ 8,000, those who houses got partially damaged will get ₹ 6, 500 and for clay tiled houses ₹ 4,000. The government will be incurring an expenditure of ₹ 33. 78 lakh for providing compensation to around 563 affected persons in UT, the Chief Minister said.