By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Amid protest and uproar, the 30-day long Winter session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Wednesday began and will continue till December 19.
The session will have 30 working days, of which 21 have been earmarked for official business. Many important bills are likely to be presented and passed in this session.
The presentation of the first supplementary statement of expenditure for the year 2019-20 will be done later in the day, sources said.
The Appropriation Bill on the first supplementary statement of expenditure for the year, 2019-20 is expected to be presented on November 25.
On November 20, 21 and 22, the House would discuss the demands for grants and the Appropriation Bill on the supplementary statement of expenditure would be tabled on November 25, he said.
The alleged suicide of Jajpur district’s Haridashpur VLW Smitarani Biswal and the Kendrapara Credit Cooperative Society sexual harrasment case will be other major issues against the Government.
“We will raise several issues pertaining to law and order and corruption to take on the BJD Government. We will also seek a discussion on the Jagannath Temple’s missing key case and the Government’s delay in tabling the Judicial Commission’s Report on the matter,” said Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik.
He also said the BJP MLAs would highlight the State Government’s ‘partisan approach’ in distribution of aid to Cyclone Fan-affected people. Naiak said the alleged irregularities in the KALIA scheme would also be raised in the House.
Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra said the State Government has failed to tackle the situation that arose out of natural calamities.
“We will also seek a discussion on the Government’s 5T initiative and Mo Sarkar programme. The Government has been shielding some senior bureaucrats who are in neck-deep incorruption,” said Mishra. Senior Congress MLAs Taraprasad Bahinipati and Suresh Routray said they would seek explanation for the ‘deteriorating law and order’ situation in the State.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Kesari Arukha sought the cooperation of the Opposition parties for the smooth functioning of the Assembly. “The Treasury Bench is ready for discussion on all constructive issues to be raised by the opposition parties,” he asserted.
As per schedule, the Winter Session will run from November 13 to December 19 with 30 working days in-between.
The first Supplementary Budget for the 2019-20 fiscal will be presented by Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari on the opening day and the Appropriation Bill will be placed on 25 November.
