Odisha Assembly Budget Session likely to begin on stormy note

Bhubaneswar: The budget session of Odisha Assembly is likely to begin on a storm note as both the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and opposition parties will lock the horns over several key issues.

As the question hour and zero hour will be allowed this time in the sixth session of Odisha Assembly, the Government may face questions and criticism over key issues like farmers’ agitation and border dispute.

“We will raise Kotia jurisdiction row in the House. We will also target the State Government over ongoing farmers’ protest,” said senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra.

The BJD has also prepared a strategy to counter the opposition parties.

The party will discuss central negligence to Odisha, a big revenue shortfall due to GST and other Central sponsored schemes.

“The State will lose Rs 12,000 crore this year due to implementation of GST. The State Government will bear the loss of Rs 60,000 crore in five years,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister BK Aarukh.

Similarly, the party will also corner Opposition BJP over allocation to Odisha in the Railway Budget this year, he added.

Meanwhile, the BJP may target the ruling BJD over Mahanga double murder issue, Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border dispute as well as mandi system.

Earlier in the day, the all-party meeting was held ahead of the budget session scheduled from tomorrow.

After chairing the meeting, Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro said that there will be question hour during entire sixth session.

“There will be sitting on Saturdays during entire sixth session. Time of each sitting day will be for 4.30 hours starting from 10.30 am to 1.00 pm and 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm. The sitting arrangements will be made for the members in Assembly Hall, Visitors’ Gallery, DV Gallery and Speaker’s Gallery,” a release stated today.

The budget session will commence on February 18 after Governor’s Address, Obituary Reference, Motion of Thanks & Laying of the lists of Assented Bills in the House by Secretary, OLA. Later, the House will be adjourned. The Budget will be tabled on February 22.

As per the decision taken at the all-party meeting, the members will participate in debate by standing or sitting in their respective seats. The Participation of members in House will be through video conference at OCAC, second floor conference hall of the Lok Seva Bhawan, Residential office of Chief Minister/Minister/Leader of Opposition/Members and office of respective collectors where video conference system have been installed.

As part of precautionary measures against spread of Coronavirus, the papers/reports will not be distributed among members in the House except urgent in nature i.e amendments to bill or reply of ministers etc. All such papers will be distributed by post to members at their respective addresses in Bhubaneswar. The Corona preventive kit will be supplied to members/media people/officials of Odisha Legislative Assembly by the Health & Family Welfare Department. The Assembly Hall and premises will be sanitised daily by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The annual budget documents/papers will be circulated among all members. Circulation of Annual Budget documents/papers among members. The representative of Press (Print media/Electronic media) will be allowed into the Assembly premises after showing the passes issued by the Assembly authorities. However, no lobby passes will be issued to any Press/TV representative other than members.

 

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