Bhubaneswar: The ongoing Budget Session of the 16th Odisha Legislative Assembly, which remained adjourned till March 29 in view of the coronavirus threat, will meet at the new convention hall of the Lokseva Bhawan (State Secretariat) on Monday as the Assembly building needs to be disinfected from the virus.
It should be noted that the third COVID-19 patient of the State had visited the Assembly dispensary on March 16.Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro had earlier stated that he has directed leaders of all political parties to come with 30 per cent of their MLAs to attend the Assembly as a two-metre distance is required between two persons as a measure to remain safe from the coronavirus. Demands for Grants relating to expenditures of various departments would be passed through guillotine and the Appropriation Bill relating to the Annual Budget 2020-21 would be passed on the day (Monday). All these transactions would be completed within an hour. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari would remain present.
The Speaker said minimum quorum would be maintained for running the House. While journalists have not been invited to the sitting, the Information and Public Relations Department has been entrusted the responsibility of sending information relating to the Assembly proceedings to newspapers and news channels through e-mails, added the sources. It may be noted that the Appropriation Bill was earlier scheduled to be presented and passed on March 31
Prasanta Patnaik