Pondy CM urges Centre to take steps for steady economy

Puducherry, Sept 30: Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today urged the Centre to take immediate steps for steady economic development of the country, failing which all the states would be affected severely. Talking to media persons here, Mr Narayansamy referred to the statement of BJP leader and former minister Yaswant Sinha on the state of economy of the country and the decline of growth and said that as stated by Manmohan Singh the economic growth of the country had suffered after demonetization and GST. "Finance Minister Arun Jaitley should shoulder responsibility for the same," he said, adding that immediate steps be taken to find a way out and the Centre should reduce petrol price forthwith. He said three days back, he along with Welfare Minister M Kandasmay met Union Agriculture Minister and apprised him of the drought situation in Puducherry. The direction of the Supreme Court that free rice scheme be implemented in states with drought was brought to the notice of the Minister and sought its implementation in Puducherry. Accepting this request, the Minister assured to provide free rice for 11 lakh population in the state. Hence, Puducherry would get free rice worth Rs 109 crore. For the first three months, it would be provided and later in a phased manner, Mr Narayansamy said. The Chief Minister said under the beach protection scheme, Rs 19 crores work is on in front of the chief secretariat and the approval of the central government for the same work at the south area is expected shortly. He also added that the administration had prepared and forwarded a Rs155 crores proposal to the union government to prevent sea erosion at Kurussukuppam area. Mr Narayanasamy said 98 per cent of the traders have come under the GST network and added that two days back he met several traders and inquired with them.Since, it was the first phase, accounts could not be maintained properly, he said, adding that certainly revenue loss was there which would be compensated by the centre. "Sale of the electrical goods was the most affected, Mr Narayansamy said, adding that previously it was 5 per cent tax when people from Tamil Nadu used to come to purchase the same from Puducherry. Now it has risen to 28 per cent and the sale totally affected. He also said the Centre would compare the revenue before July 2017 and the present and compensate revenue loss," the Chief Minister added. UNI