Puducherry: The Centre was planning to set up a thermal power plant in Karaikal, Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy today said.

The Centre would soon finalise the project in collaboration with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), he told reporters here.

He also said the Puducherry Government had sought help from the Centre and the World Bank for funds to construct houses for the tsunami victims in the region. Funds would be made available soon and around 7,000 houses would be built.

He said the Indo-US nuclear deal would pave way for the economic and industrial development of the country.

Stating that there had been complaints on price of rice and other grocery items shooting up fast, he said the Congress Government in Puducherry should initiate steps to prevent blackmarketing of essential commodities.

Prices quoted here were much higher than that in Tamil Nadu and hoarding and blackmarketing were taking place with impunity. The civil supplies authorities in Puducherry should keep a vigil in this regard and not create further shortage of commodities in the fast approaching Diwali season, he said.
Source : PTI