Govt will not permit environmentally polluting industries: CM

Puducherry, July 24 (PTI): Chief Minister N Rangasamy today said the government would not permit industries to draw excessive underground water and also pollute the environment by discharging industrial effluents. He was replying to the charge of ruling AINRC legislator Ashok Anand during question in the assembly that a number of industries were drawing excessive underground water, violating the permitted limits. This had affected the drinking water quality of villages in the vicinity of the industries. He also named some industries and said the Groundwater Authority should be equipped with more powers as presently it could only monitor industries. Another AINRC legislator P Karthikeyan drew attention to a similar situation in Oussudu Assembly constituency Industries Minister M Chandhirakasu told members the Chief Minister had already asked him to constitute a committee to supervise functioning of industries to protect the environment and water table. Rangasamy, who intervened, agreed with the legislators' concern and said government would not permit any industry to draw water in excess of permitted limits and also cause threat to the environment. Welfare Minister P Rajavelu told A Anbalagan (AIADMK) that the government had decided to pay monthly assistance to around 7000 aged persons, widows and destitute women. In the first phase,around 3400 applicants had been sanctioned the amount and the others would get it soon, he said. Chief Minister told A M H Nazeem (DMK) that government would soon get ready a chariot for Ammayyar temple at Karaikal. He told A Namassivayam (Congress) that temple chariots for three more temples in Villianoor, Veerampattinam and Bahoor would be repaired.