PUDUCHERRY: The controversy over the non-receipt of interim cyclone relief by the Puducherry government was set to rest, on Saturday, with Union Minister of State for PMO V Narayanasamy saying that the second instalment of Rs 75 crore had been transferred to public account of Puducherry government in the Reserve Bank of India on Friday.Briefing newsmen at a press conference on Saturday, he said that the Central government had already made a ‘book transfer’ payment of the relief to Puducherry as well as to Tamil Nadu. This means that after spending the amount it would be re-appropriated. But the Chief Minister keeps on denying having received it, while the Tamil Nadu government has stated having received it. Narayanasamy said that it was an administrative procedure in financial matters and the chief minister should not have made it a controversy. Replying to Rangasamy‘s statement on Centre having cut the assistance of Rs 96 crore, he said that as per the rules governing finance, the government had not been able to utilise 66 per cent of the plan allocation after nine months. Puducherry government had been able to spend only 50 per cent. In the remaining three months it cannot utilise another 50 per cent of the Central assistance granted and, therefore, the excess allocation was withdrawn, said Narayanasamy. Replying to the charge that he had been coming in the way of Puducherry’s development by threatening officials, Narayanasamy said that it was his concern for the people as a parliamentary representative and union minister to speak to officials regarding the problems that include law and order and cyclone relief. He denied making “intimidatory comments” against Puducherry officials and said he was prepared to face a inquiry in this regard.Further, he spoke about the utilisation of MP LAD funds which includes ambulances, mobile patrol vans for police and equipment for police control rooms.
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