Shillong, Mar 4: The budget session of the Meghalaya assembly will begin from Friday with Governor Satya Pal Malik addressing the members of the House.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who also handles the Finance portfolio, will present the State’s budget on March 10. He is likely to announce some sops to rejuvenate the state’s economy.
The Chief Minister said that in the last financial year the budget has been affected because of COVID-19.
“The government of India has already announced the recommendation made by the 15th Finance Commission and based on the projections for the internal revenue and the state’s own revenue we have proposed our own budget this time,†Sangma said.
The budget session is likely to be a stormy one as the opposition Congress party is expected to raise the illegal mining and transportation of coal, besides price rise, frequent power cuts and corruption.
During the session, four days have been earmarked for Private members’ business and seven days for Government business.
The Chief Minister told reporters that it is important to have issues of relevance to be discussed.
“It is a good opportunity for the opposition to take up issues concerning the public and the state and it is an opportunity for the government to clarify concerns raised by the opposition. Hope the session will be productive,†Sangma said.
However, with the number of evidence piling up against the government for failing to stop the illegal coal mining in the State, it’s unlikely to be easy going for the Chief Minister to continue defending the government.