Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy presenting the Budget for the financial year 2025-26 in the Legislative Assembly in Puducherry on Wednesday
| Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar
The Puducherry government has issued no-objection certificates for the establishment of five distilleries as part of measures to shore up revenue and create job opportunities, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy informed the Assembly on Thursday (March 13, 2025).
Winding up the discussion on Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan’s address in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said the NOCs issued to the distilleries would help the government raise around ₹500 crore revenue and provide jobs to 5,000 women. The government’s aim was to set up the distilleries without causing degradation to groundwater or the environment, he said.
Making an indirect reference to the criticism levelled by the Congress that there was corruption involved in issuing permits for starting distilleries in the Union Territory, the Chief Minister said: “People are saying lot of things about issuing permits for the distilleries. We don’t know from where they got that information. We don’t know why people are saying all these things and their interests. We have to accept the role played by the liquor industry in raising the resources of the UT, and if everyone takes a unanimous stand on prohibition, I will also support prohibition,” he said.
The Lt. Governor, the Chief Minister said, had a considerate view on the demands of the government. He has been positive to the development needs of the UT, the Chief Minister said, adding: “When I met him (Lt. Governor) yesterday also, he said he will be meeting the Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] soon and has promised to take up subjects concerning the UT’s administration with the Centre. I am hopeful that the Centre will take a considerate view on all our grievances, including the demand for Statehood,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the government will implement all the promises made in the Budget. The government’s priority will be to create jobs by filling vacancies in departments and starting new industries, he added.
Published – March 13, 2025 02:57 pm IST