Appropriation bill pass unanimously in Chhattisgarh assembly

     Raipur, February 20, 2009: Creating a history, the Chhattisgarh Assembly today passed the Appropriation Bill unanimously.

     Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, who also holds the Finance portfolio, today moved an Appropriation Bill of Rs 22,211 crore for the financial year 2009-2010 and the house discussed the bill for over six hours.

     Leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey, however took the occasion to attack the government and said rule of the law should be the same for all.

     But that was not happening in Chhattisgarh and BALCO is allowed to continue with its construction on encroached area in Korba when in Raipur city genuine people had faced demolition of their properties, when rule should be the same for all, Choubey said.

     Chief Minister Singh replying to the discussion said in the last five years Chhattisgarh has achieved many success.

     It was the result of the good works that the people rewarded us and elected us for the second time, he said.

     Singh also said the Centre was not assisting the state and adopting a discriminatory attitude, as a result of which a single metre of additional track was not sanction to Chhattisgarh when the Bilaspur Railway Zone was the largest revenue contributor to the Railways.

     When it was agriculture state neither the minimum support price of paddy was increased nor the interest rate on agriculture loan was decreased, he said.

     On the fiscal management, the Chief Minister said the establishment cost of the state has increased from 38 to 40 per cent as there were large scale recruitments of about 75,000 employees and also due to implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission.

     To deal with the naxal situation among others the state had made a provision of Rs 941 crore, he said.

     Finally the Chief Minister urged the Opposition to pass the appropriation bill unanimously for the greater interest of the state.

     After Speaker Dharamlal Kaushik put the bill to a voice vote declared it was passed unanimously.