Tamil Nadu Minister for Higher Education P. Viswanathan and Tourism Minister S. Rajeshkumar assured the Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee to look into the memorandum seeking assistance from Tamil Nadu government for fufilling the development needs of Puducherry.

At a reception organised by the PPCC for the two Congress Ministers in the coalition government led by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam founder C. Jospeph Vijay in Tamil Nadu, Member of Parliament and PPCC chief V. Vaithilingam submitted a memorandum listing out the areas where Tamil Nadu government could assist Puducherry in its development requirements.

The Ministers said all the demands put forth by the PPCC would be taken up with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. They said the Tamil Nadu government would render all assistance needed for the development of Puducherry.

Mr. Vaithilingam, in his memorandum, said the Airports Authority of India would need around 400 acres of land for the construction of a new runway in Puducherry airport as part of the expansion project. Pointing out that 200 acres of the total land needed for the new runway are in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, he urged the State government to help in the land acquisition.

The PPCC chief sought the intervention of Congress Ministers in getting a quota allocated for Puducherry students in Tamil Nadu universities. He also requested that a land be allotted in Thiruchendur for the construction of a guest house for devotees from Puducherry.

Mr. Vaithilingam also stressed the need for allocating Cauvery water to farmers in Karaikal region of the Union Territory. Former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and former Minister M. Kandasamy were among those present.