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Area : 480 sq km
Population : 974,345
Capital : Puducherry
Principal Languages : Tamil, Telugu,
Malayalam, English and French
The territory of Puducherry
comprises of the former French establishment
Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, which lie
scattered in South India. Puducherry, the
capital of the territory was once the original
headquarters of the French in India. It was
under the French rule for 138 years, and merged
with the Indian Union on 1 November, 1954. It is
bounded on the east by the Bay of Bengal, and on
the three sides by Tamil Nadu. About 150 km
south of Puducherry on the east coast lies
Karaikal. Mahe is situated on the Malabar Coast
on the Western Ghats, surrounded by Kerala. It
can be reached from Calicut Airport, which is 70
km from Mahe. Yanam is situated adjoining the
East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, and is
about 200 km from Visakhapatnam airport.
Nearly 45 per cent of the population
of the Union Territory is engaged in agriculture
and allied pursuits. Eighty seven per cent of
the cultivated area is irrigated. Paddy is the
predominant crop followed by pulses. Mahe region
contributes in the plantation wealth of this
territory. Crops like coconut, areca nut,
condiments and spices are grown here. Pulses,
groundnut and chillies are the other rainfed
crops grown in Yanam.
7,677 Industrial Units in total with an
aggregate investment of Rs 2,090.23 crore
provided employment to 89,296 persons up to
March 2006. The total value of production of
these industrial units worked out to Rs
12,938.25 crore.
Further, during the financial year 2004-2005
(upto March 2005) the value of exports in
respect of the various products manufactured by
the export oriented units is Rs 601.14
crore.
Under the assistance from the European Union
84 tanks were rehabilitated. One bed dam across
Pennaiyar at Sitheri was completed at a cost of
Rs 5.77 crore and a bed dam across Chunnambar at
Nonankuppam is hearing completion at a cost of
Rs 3.71 crore. In addition to the above
necessary proposal to construct bed damps for
ground water recharges at Aratchikuppam,
Pambaiyar confluence point at Sellipet, across
Malatar in Nettapakkam in Pondicherry and across
Mullaiyar, Pravadayanar and Vanjiar at Karaikal
are proposed at a cost of Rs 7.78 crore. Also
the construction of a bridge cumbarrage at
Villanur at a cost of Rs 12.59 crore is under
progress. Fishing harbour at a cost of Rs 34.80
crore is proposed at Karaikal and in Mahe fishig
harbour at a cost of Rs 21.50 crore is under
model study through IIT, Chennia. Also due to
implemtnation of Ground Water Recharge Schemes,
the rise in Ground Water Table is realised.
The Power requirements of the Union
Territory of Puducherry are met by availing
share of power from the Central Generating
Stations, and by purchasing power from the
neighbouring State Electricity Boards viz.,
Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Kerala State
Electricity Board, and from the Puducherry Power
Corporation Limited.
Four lane bridge at Ariyankappam has been
taken up at a cost of Rs 13.02 crore. the Bridge
across Sankaraparani River at Sellipet was
completed at a cost of Rs 4.93 crore.
Improvement to ECR roads as four lane roads,
schemes at a cost of Rs. 2.57 crore are being
implemented. Improvements to Beach road at
Pondicherry is proposed at a cost of Rs 3.24
crore. Draft plan on traffic
and Transportation Engineering, whcih
envisages short-term, long-term, and rapid
action plan has been obtained and the works will
be taken up in phased manner. New bridges at a
costof Rs 4.00 crore has been taken in Karaikal
region.
Sewerage scheme in sub urban areas of
Pondicherry has been taken up at a cost of Rs.
4.48 crore. The implementation of underground
drainage scheme in Karaikal is proposed at a
cost of Rs 34.00 crore after conducting the
investigation. Revitalisation of Bharathi Park
is proposed at a cost of Rs. 2.47 crore under
C.S.S. New Sewerage treatment plant in Lawspet
and Dubrayapet are being commissioned to cater
the growign demand.
Located about 160 Km South of
Chennai, Pondicherry (known in Tamil as
Puddcherry), the former French Colony of the
early 18th Century, is a charming Indian town
with a few enduring pockets of French Culture,
and an Ashram set beside the sea. Together with
the othe former French enclaves of Karaikal
(also in Tamil Nadu), Mahe (Kerala), Yanam
(Andhra Pradesh), it now forms the Union,
Territory of Pondicherry. The uniqueness of this
town invariably lies in skillful town planning
and Franco Tamil architecture. the town is built
on the model of "bastide", a fortified French
coastal town of the late 18th Century.
The lands to an extent of 13.89 hectares ahve
been acquired and handed over to the
Archeological Survey of India, Southern Circle,
Chennai on 7 Novemebr 2003. The Archaeological
Survey of India has completed fencing the site.
Archaeological Survey of India and HUDCO will
prepare the project.
Being the legendary abode of renowned saints,
ancient trading settlement with Rome and Greece,
once capital of French India, a spiritual Power
house, Pondicherry has touristic resources in
the back waters, rivers, beaches and other areas
developed as sustainable eco-tourist facilities.
Influenced by East and West, Pondicherry has
unique handicrafts in leather pottery, hand
made paper, incense and antique colonial
furniture. Late Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru rightly described Pondicherry as "the
Window of French Culture".
Sri Aurobindo, the great seer, poet and
prophet of Indian spiritually, preached his
vision and ideals staying in Pondicherry till
his life. His Ashram is still an unique
institution with its distinctive way of life
attracting people from all over the world.
The new Pondicherry Tourism Development
Corporation was evolved on 1 April 2005 with the
aim on new tourism projects, diversification and
expansion of the existing tourism
activities.
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