Shimla: To be the last budget session before a call for polls is made later in the year, the 21 sittings are expected to generate much heat as the opposition Congress hopes to trump the government over corruption and governance issues.
While the treasury benches are expected to pat the governments programs, especially the prudent fiscal management in clearing about Rs 800 crores of arrears to employees on account of 5th Pay Commission revision, the opposition is expected to create a ruckus over corruption allegations laid bare by Himachal Lokhit Party recently.
Not sure any longer about an anti-incumbency wave delivering power to the opposition party, controversial issues about land sale, benami deals, opening of many private universities, forest violations in eco-tourism ventures, permissions granted to builders and colonizers under Apartments Act and several other issues that are under scrutiny are expected to be raised in the house .
Being the last budget session before general assembly polls later this year, Speaker Tulsi Ram let media persons here know yesterday that all legislators would be given ample time to raise issues even a the cost of extending the session late into the evening.”
Starting out on 9th March, the budget session would extend to 6th April, in which 21 sittings of the house are scheduled to be held,” he said.
The session would open with the governors address; the chief minister would present the budget on 19th March and after being debated it is expected to be passed on 30th March, he said.
With the lawmakers having posed over 700 questions to the government, “prominent ones relate to recruitments and land deals,” said Tulsi Ram.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
