The Puducherry Government is in the process of formulating a new indsutrial policy, Revenue, Transport and Industries Minister MOHF Shahjahan Maricar said today.

The government would compare the policies of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and draft the policy will have additional points not in the policies of these States so that more investments could be attracted.

He said 200 applications had been received to set up new industries in the Union Territory, indicating a favourable industrial climate prevailed in Puducherry. As against the national GDP of 6.4 per cent, it was 11.4 per cent in Puducherry, he said, adding the literacy rate was also a whopping 97.5 per cent.

About the ongoing confrontation between the Lieutenant Governor and the Government, Maricar said there was bound to be always some differences. However, a section of the media was blowing this out of proportion, he added.

“The government, elected by the people, always has the power and the intervention of the Governor in certain matter make things worse,” he said. Despite some friction, the Government was functioning very well and Puducherry remained peaceful, he added.

On Tamil Nadu, Maricar said there persisted a confusing political situation and both the ruling and opposition parties were equally confused. There was the need for a stable government, he felt.