Puducherry welcomes 'protected agricultural zone' move

Agriculture Minister of Puducherry R Kamalakannan on Sunday said the announcement by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami that thedistricts in the delta region in the state would be designated as 'protected agricultural zone' should be followed up with measures to practically implement the announcement. Kamalakannan told PTI over phone that the announcement should see practical steps and "we will welcome the measure."

The Minister, basically an agriculturist, hails from Tirunallar in Karaikal region, an enclave of Puducherry, which also comes under the ambit of delta district of neighbouring Nagapattinam.

Recently, there was a strong objection from the Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and also the Agriculture Minister to the move of the Centre to let drilling operations for hydro carbon in the delta district of Karaikal and also in Bahoor zone in Puducherry.

Narayanasamy had also said in no uncertain terms that the territorial administration would never permit exploration of farmland anywhere in the Puducherry and Karaikal regions for hydro carbon deposits