Puducherry: At the first session of Puducherry legislative Assembly, Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy adopted a resolution to condole the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Narayanasamy announced that Puducherry government would instal a statue of Ms Jayalalithaa and a committee would be constituted shortly to identify the site and other modalities. Condolence resolutions were also adopted for former Puducherry Deputy Speaker A.V. Sreedharn, former Speaker V.M.C. Sivakumar and former Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, after paying tributes to them.


Later, the Assembly adopted a resolution seeking funds from the Centre towards drought relief in Puducherry, Karaikal and Mahe regions of the Union Territory.

A loss of 7,890 tonnes of paddy was recorded in Puducherry region costing Rs 11.61 crore due to monsoon's failure. In Karaikal, the loss is estimated at 364 tonnes of paddy costing Rs 1.82 crore, said R. Kamalakannan, Agriculture Minister.

The loss in other grains is Rs 60.19 crore and sugarcane Rs 25 crore, he added.
Loan amount of Rs 22 crore for 60,000 farmers would be waived, he informed the house.

Narayansamy also moved a resolution seeking to exempt Puducherry from National Entrance and Eligibility Test (NEET) and urging the Centre to permit Puducherry to pass necessary bill for conduct of jallikattu here. The two government resolutions would be taken up on Wednesday. Later, the speaker adjourned the assembly sine die at 2.00 pm.