Latest news with #NRangasamy
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Puducherry launches Rs 110 crore integrated solid waste management project
PUDUCHERRY: The Union Territory is poised to roll out a comprehensive Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) project for its urban areas, with a pilot phase commencing on June 1. Full-scale operations will follow from July 1, to be executed by Green Warrior Agency (GWA), which has been awarded the contract. The new initiative marks the end of services rendered by Swachhata Corporation, whose contract concludes on June 30. GWA will be responsible for the entire waste management cycle, including door-to-door collection, segregation, transportation, processing, composting, recycling, and biogas generation. Funded under the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the `110-crore project includes a Central capital subsidy of Rs 18.76 crore. It seeks to overhaul the existing system by phasing out community bins and adopting a decentralised, household-level waste collection model. The trial run will be launched in Chief Minister N Rangasamy's Thattanchavady constituency and at the Raj Bhavan, aimed at acclimatising residents to the new waste handling procedures. Speaking to TNIE, Director of Local Administration S Shakthivel said the Kurumbapet dump yard (KDY) is being readied with advanced infrastructure for processing various waste streams, including electronic waste. A 10.5-acre portion of the site has been earmarked for infrastructure development. A 60-tonne-per-day pyrolysis plant is being established at the site to produce 12 to 15 tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) daily. Additionally, a 100-tonne-per-day Compressed Biogas (CBG) facility, costing `25 crore, is expected to yield 2.5 tonnes of biogas each day. Mechanised systems will handle segregation to facilitate composting and recycling of plastics, wood, and other recoverables. The facility will also manufacture paver blocks, with all end products marketed to industries as part of a circular economy model. GWA will be remunerated at `3,300 per tonne of waste processed. Spanning 23 acres, the Kurumbapet yard is also undergoing legacy waste clearance. Since 2021, Zigma Global Environment Solutions, based in Erode, has removed 10.5 lakh tonnes of legacy waste, reclaiming 14 acres in the process. A resource park and testing laboratory are currently being set up at the site, which will also accommodate the relocated solid waste management wing of the Local Administration Department. Puducherry generates approximately 350 tonnes of solid waste daily, with an additional 100 to 120 tonnes coming from surrounding commune panchayats. While the ISWM initiative is expected to significantly enhance cleanliness and environmental sustainability, officials admit that achieving seamless door-to-door collection across all urban areas will be a major operational challenge.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CPI urge CM Rangasamy to rectify 'grave social injustice' in recruitment process of Assistant posts in UT
PUDUCHERRY: The Communist Party of India (CPI) has urged Chief Minister N Rangasamy to immediately intervene and rectify what it termed a 'grave social injustice' in the recruitment process for Assistant posts in the Union Territory. In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, CPI State Secretary A M Saleem alleged that the rights of Backward Classes (BCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Scheduled Castes (SCs) had been violated due to an irregular allocation of quota to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). Saleem pointed out that recruitment rules notified on April 20, 2012 mandate that only 20% of Assistant posts are to be filled through direct recruitment. However, the EWS reservation system was introduced only in January 2019, making it inapplicable to vacancies notified prior to that date. Despite this, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms allegedly allocated 25 posts to the EWS category—17 more than what CPI claims is legally permissible. The party further argued that in the absence of a caste census in Puducherry, EWS candidates account for just 2% of the population, rendering the 10% quota unjustified. CPI called for immediate corrective action to uphold constitutional reservation norms.
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Pondy CM orders completion of 464 stalled apartments in Lambart Saravanan Nagar within six months
PUDUCHERRY: Chief Minister N Rangasamy has directed officials to resume and complete the construction of 464 stalled apartments in Lambart Saravanan Nagar for the poor within six months. The housing project for poverty alleviation, undertaken by the Puducherry Slum Clearance Board (PSCB), had been sanctioned for 896 units but was partially delayed. In a high-level review meeting held on Monday, the chief minister instructed PSCB officials to expedite the construction process and ensure timely handover of the homes to eligible beneficiaries. Authorities confirmed that the remaining work commenced on Tuesday. The housing initiative dates back to 2008 when the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation approved the construction of 1,136 dwelling units at Reddiarpalayam at an estimated cost of Rs 37.38 crore. The ministry agreed to release the central share of Rs 28 crore and the balance Rs 9.33 crore was to be mobilised by the Puducherry government. The project was later revised to 896 units with a higher estimated cost of Rs 46 crore. Of these, 432 units were completed and allotted, while construction of the remaining 464 units was stalled.
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Reactivate medical financial assistance scheme: Puducherry CM tells health department
PUDUCHERRY: Reiterating the government's commitment to public health, Chief Minister N Rangasamy has directed the health department to reactivate the medical financial assistance scheme for treatment of life threatening diseases under the Puducherry Medical Relief Society(PMRS), functioning under the chief minister. At present, the government is implementing the PM-JAY under Ayushman Bharat Health insurance scheme, which is confined to poor and elderly persons. With the Universal Health Insurance scheme planned by the government covering all the people of the union territory yet to materialise, the CM has instructed for the revival of PMRS. A high-level review meeting on the progress of the Puducherry Government's health department was held on Tuesday at the Legislative Assembly under the chairmanship of the chief minister. The meeting focused on evaluating existing schemes and identifying areas needing urgent attention. CM Rangasamy directed officials to immediately fill all vacant posts in the department to improve efficiency and service delivery.
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CPM urges Puducherry govt to revise SC reservation criteria, enforce Supreme Court ruling
PUDUCHERRY: CPM has urged the Puducherry government to revise the criteria granting reservation only to 'Origin' (indigenous) SCs, who were residing in the UT before 1964 , aligning it with the criteria set for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Most Backward Classes (MBC) which offers reservations to residents who settled in the UT before 2001. In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister N Rangasamy, CPM State Secretary S Ramachandran called the existing 1964 cut-off year for SC reservations 'unfair and discriminatory.' 'Due to such disparities, reservation benefits in higher education are being diverted to the general category,' Ramachandran said adding that this should be prevented. He demanded that all SC categories receive free education from primary to postgraduate level. Of Puducherry's estimated 14 lakh population, 16% belong to SC communities. As per government data, 60% of these are considered Origin SCs, while 40% are classified as migrants based on the 1964 benchmark. While central welfare funds are allocated based on the total SC population, state benefits such as scholarships, job reservations, and promotions are extended only to Origin SCs, according to a 2005 government order. Ramachandran noted that this order was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2014 by a three-member bench, including the Chief Justice of India. However, the verdict has yet to be implemented. 'Only those who approach the courts individually are getting relief, which is unjust,' he said, demanding the immediate enforcement of the Supreme Court's ruling. He also called for SC certificates to be issued based on maternal lineage to eliminate gender-based discrimination. Highlighting shrinking employment opportunities, the CPM leader further urged the government to extend reservation benefits for SC, OBC, and MBC communities into the private sector.
