‘Shillong Bypass within March’
Governor RS Mooshahary, during his customary Address in the Assembly on Thursday, informed that the Shillong bypass is targeted to be completed within this month. Official sources have informed that the black topping of the road has been completed, while adding that they are trying their level best to complete the road within this month. “The NHAI has rope in NIT, Guwahati, to do the security audit of this project,” the sources added.
‘Railway line in M’laya soon’
Governor RS Mooshahary on Thursday said that the State will be on the country’s rail map soon with the commissioning of the Dudhnoi-Mendipathar line. “This will be a landmark event in the history of the State. The Government will continue to pursue the approved lines of Tetlia-Byrnihat and Byrnihat-Shillong and the proposal for Panchratna-Badarpur line,” the Governor said during his customary Address in the Assembly on Thursday.
Budget presentation on Mar 22
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, who holds the portfolio of Finance, would be presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2013-14 in the House on March 22. The discussion on the budget would be held when the House assembles after a short recess on April 10. Meanwhile, the vote on account would be taken up on the same day when the Chief Minister would present the budget.
No Question Hour till Mar 18
Breaking Parliamentary convention, the Budget Session of the State Legislative Assembly, which began on Thursday, would have the customary ‘Question Hour’ from March 19 onwards. Assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal informed that there will be no Question Hour in the next two days of the current Session on March 15 and 18. “Even in the past, there have been conventions of not having the Question Hour in the initial days of the session of the new Assembly. The delay is because the new House has recently been constituted,” Mondal told reporters on Thursday.
Earlier, Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) MLA Ardent M Basaiawmoit had raised a point of order seeking a clarification from the Assembly Speaker for excluding the customary question hour from the list of business for the day.
According to Basaiawmoit, Rule 31 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business says that unless the Speaker otherwise directs, not less than 15 clear days’ notice of a question shall be given.
It is learnt that the Assembly Secretariat had circulated notices to members of the House only on March 12 and informed that the submission of questions, motions and resolutions is from March 15 to 28, despite the fact that the Assembly session began on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Assembly Speaker announced the report of the Business Advisory Committee and also informed that he has nominated legislators MM Danggo, Metbah Lyngdoh, Dr Celestine Lyngdoh and Ronnie V Lyngdoh to the panel of Chairmen.