SHIMLA, Apr 10:
Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly today cleared three amendment bills to provide sharp hike in allowances of Ministers, legislators and former Ministers.
The hike will bring an additional burden of Rs 3.5 crore on the State exchequer. The amendment bills introduced in the house was passed with voice vote within minutes and also without any debate by the treasury and opposition members.
The fund-starved Government is reeling under a debt of Rs 33,884 crore till March 2014, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said. As per the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pensions of members) Amendment Bill of 2015, the daily allowance of the members has been increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500.
Similarly, the limit for reimbursement of expenses incurred on free travel facility had also been increased from Rs 75,000 to Rs 2,00,000 per annum. Also, each member is going to be entitled to get an allowance of Rs 12,000 per month to engage computer operator for the first time in the history of State assembly.
For ex-members of the assembly, the limit for reimbursement of expenses incurred on free travel facility would be Rs 1,00,000 now instead of railway tariff of 20,000 km per annum. For the Ministers, Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the limit for reimbursement of expenses incurred on free travel facility would be Rs 2,00,000 instead of railway tariff of 1,00,000 km.
Earlier, there was a steep hike in salaries and allowances of Ministers, Legislators and pension of former legislators in 2013.
The Chief Minister said due to sharp increase in the cost of living, the members of the assembly have to incur a lot. (UNI)
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