House passes full budget
SHILLONG: The Assembly on Thursday passed the full budget for 2020-21. Earlier in March, the budget session was truncated due to COVID-19 and only vote- on- account for three months was passed. On Thursday, the Assembly passed the budget (Meghalaya Appropriation (No.II) Bill, 2020 to enable the state government to withdraw over Rs 17,000 crore (Rs 17,430,23,49,000) from the consolidated fund of Meghalaya.
Employees to get back deferred pay
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday assured the Assembly that the government employees will get back the deferred pay. In response to the concerns of the legislators regarding the employees, the chief minister said the decision to defer certain percentage of the salary was in the best interest of the people of the state in view of the current situation. “The finance department is examining the matter and it will take an appropriate decision”, he said.
No incinerator in civil hospital
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday corrected the reply of Health Minister AL Hek on the availability of incinerator in Shillong to treat bio medical wastes. During the question hour, SK Sunn (Independent) informed that the Shillong Civil Hospital does not have an incinerator and hence the bio medical waste is treated elsewhere. However, in reply, the health minister said there is an inclinator in civil hospital. After the question hour, the chief minister got up and said the civil hospital does not have an incinerator. “I would like to correct that Shillong civil hospital does not have an incinerator. However, the process of procuring incinerators are on in all three locations (Shillong, Jowai and Tura),” the chief minister said. The MLAs also expressed concern over dumping PPE and others in the open without following the health protocols.