Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal on Monday said that the State Government has undertaken several initiatives to tackle the problem of shortage of water in southern Haryana, including formulating a Rs 143-crore scheme for renovation and augmentation of lift irrigation system, which had been neglected for the last more than 30 years.
The Chief Minister while talking to the mediapersons after attending the Vidhan Sabha session on its first day, said that Rs 2,000-crore scheme had been prepared to increase the total capacity of Western Yamuna Canal and Jawahar lal Nehru Canal by about 5,000 cusecs.
Besides, rainwater would be utilised for recharging, irrigation and filling ponds, said he.
Manohar lal said that every region has its own problems and it is the duty of every MlA to raise the issues pertaining to his or her area in the House for their resolution.
On SYl canal issue, he said that the verdict in favour of Haryana in the matter of Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYl) Canal had instilled hope in the people. Some work on the canal was remaining and hearing in this regard would be held in the Supreme Court on March 2, he added.
Budget on March 6
The budget session of Haryana Assembly, which began on Monday will continue till March 10. The budget for 2017-18 will be presented on March 6 by Finance Minister Capt. Abhimanyu. While the session will be of ten days, the House will have double-sitting on March 1 and 7.
This was decided by the Business Advisory Committee which met before the commencement of the session.
The demand for a longer session was raised by leader of opposition and INlD’s senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala while the Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar assured to give enough time to the opposition to speak in the Assembly.
Notably, the Jat reservation issue is set to figure prominently in the ongoing session as the community members have been agitating for a month in support of their various demands.
Guv's address shows BJP Govt a rudderless ship, says Kiran
Kiran Choudhry, leader of Haryana Congress legislature Party, has described the Governor's Address which is supposed to reflect the thinking, plans and vision of the State Government, as "lacking in focus, perspective and direction and paints the government as a rudderless ship going adrift in the choppy waters of Haryana." It glosses over the issues that concern the man in the street, she said.
The former Excise and Taxation Minister said that the more than 9,500-word text simply glosses over such vital issues as the problems faced by the farmers, demands of the Jat agitators, traders, job-seekers and the worsening law-and-order situation in the state. It does talk of building the foundation for the golden future of the state but offers no policy framework, she said.
"It seems the BJP Government, led by the Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar, has no plans to bail out the hail and storm-hit farmers of the state, check the soaring crime rate which is making life difficult, especially for women, and provide jobs to lakhs of unemployed youths. The Governor's address shows the BJP Government lacks focus, perspective and direction and is behaving like a rudderless ship going adrift in the choppy waters of Haryana," said Kiran
No one reaches ClP meeting
Earlier in the day, not a single MlA reached the Congress headquarters to attend the Haryana ClP meeting convened by ClP leader Kiran Chaudhry ahead of the beginning of budget session. The meeting was convened to chalk out a strategy to take on the Manohar lal Khattar Government on various issues during the Haryana Assembly.
The Congress MlAs instead met former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in the morning to discuss party’s strategy for budget session.
While the ClP meeting was scheduled to begin at 12 noon, Kiran Choudhry later denied to convening any such meeting.
ClP leader Kiran is considered close to Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, whose difference with Hooda is known to everyone.
Meanwhile, Ashok Tanwar on Monday came to attend the House proceedings but seated in the guest gallery for few minutes only.
