Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 9: The Legislative Assembly would debate grants of different Ministries, beginning March 12, for 11 days before the budget is passed on March 26.
Meanwhile, the Assembly session has further been extended by a day to accommodate the grants and would now conclude on April 5.
Debate on the demands for grants of departments held by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand have been fixed for one full day of two sittings while other demands of two Ministries would be debated in a day with one Ministry’s grants being taken up in one sitting.
The calendar issued by Speaker Mubarak Gul has fixed the Chief Minister’s grants, which included Power, Home, General Administration, Information and other departments would be debated on last day of demands i.e. March 25.
Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand’s grants (Education Department) would also be debated for full day in two sittings, two days before the Chief Minister’s grants i.e. March 23. March 24 is off-day.
The demands would begin with Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather’s grant on March 12 in first sitting while in second sitting the same day, the demands of Forest Minister Mian Altaf would be taken up.
On March 13, demands of Rural Development Department held by Ali Mohammad Sagar would be taken up in first sitting while demands of Health and Medical Education Department would be debated in the second sitting. While Health Department is held by Shabir Khan (MoS) with Independent charge, Taj Mohi-ud-Din holds the charge of Medical Education Department.
Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, held by Rigzin Jora, would be taken up for debate in first sitting of the Assembly on March 14 while PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Departments of Sham Lal Sharma would be debated in second sitting the same day.
On March 15, Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir’s Department would be taken up in the first sitting while Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo’s Ministry would be debated in the second sitting.
Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone’s Department would be taken up for discussion in first sitting of March 16 while Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution and Transport Departments of Choudhary Ramzan would be debated in the second sitting the same day.
Planning and Development Department held by Ajay Sadhotra would be taken up for debate on March 18 (first sitting) and Tourism Department of GA Mir in the second sitting.
On March 19, the Legislative Assembly would debate Public Works Department held by Abdul Mujeed Wani and Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Department of MoS (Independent charge) Aijaz Khan in the second sitting.
The grants of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Department, held by Saifullah Mir would be taken up on March 20 (first sitting) while demands of Minister of State for Fisheries (Independent charge) Dr Manohar Lal Sharma would be debated in the second sitting.
On March 22, the grants of Minister of State for Industries and Commerce Department (Independent charge) Sajjad Kitchloo would be taken up in the first sitting while grants of Minister of State for Animal and Sheep Husbandry (Independent charge) Nazir Gurezi would be taken up in second sitting.
Meanwhile, Assembly session has been extended by one day till April 5. The extension was necessitated to incorporate debate on grants of some Ministries.
The budget would now be passed on March 26 instead of March 25, the revised calendar issued by the Assembly Secretariat, said.
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