India 2018

States and Union Territories 669
bounded on the east by the Bay of Bengal and on the three sides by Tamil
Nadu as a conclave of Cuddalore and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu.
Agriculture
In order to enhance the area under pandal cultivation and to improve the
production potential the formers are encouraged for cultivation of gourd
vegetables by providing monetary assistance for erecting permanent pandal
structures which remained as a constraint for the farmers due to high initial
investment cost. Assistance of 50 per cent subsidy to a maximum of 1 lakh per
acre is being provided. It offers viable option for the vegetable growers to get
increased and stable income per unit area.
Industry
The union territory has a total area of 479 sq.km with a total population of
12.44 lakh as per last census. With its reputation of being an investor-friendly,
the union territory having proven track record of attracting surplus investment
and has witnessed vibrant industrial growth over the years. Even though there
was some industrial slow down for a few years because of the general down
turn in the economy, the growth continues. Puducherry has nearly 77 large
and 9,067 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and with an
investment of ` 2909 cores, these industries are deemed to be the life blood of
economy providing employment to about one lakh persons.
Tourism
The old part of the UT is known as Boulevard Town since it is bounded by four
boulevards that once constituted the outer limits of the city’s fortification. The
Boulevard Town presents two distinct architectural styles in the Tamil and
French Quarters, which are separated by a canal and unified by a rectilinear
grid plan.There are few monumental buildings, and the architectural character
of the town is the result of hundreds of traditional-style houses (both in Tamil
and French Quarters) that form the unique streetscapes so distinctive of
Puucherry. Some must-see sights include Arikanmedu, a famous historical site
that was discovered by the Romans in 200 B.C and is being excavated, Aayi
Mandapam, a monument built during the reign of Napoleon III, Eglise De
Sacre Coeur De Jesus or Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus, known for its Gothic
architecture and the Mansion of Ananda Rangapillai, a fine specimen of Indo-
French architecture that was built in 1773.
Electricity
The present power requirement of the union territory is met from the power
allocations made by the Government of India in various Central Generating
Stations (CGS) and from purchase of power from neighbouring State Electricity