The Vidhan Sabha on Monday saw discussion on the vote of thanks of the Governor’s address apart from which the vote on account for the new financial year was also tabled in the House. The opposition vociferously raised the issue of the recent death of a beat watcher crushed by a tractor trolley driven by those involved in illegal quarrying activities on the Kosi river belt in Ramnagar area.
As soon as the proceedings began on Monday, the opposition MlAs led by leader of opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, Indira Hridayesh, Pritam Singh and other party MlAs condemned the death of a beat watcher and reminded the treasury bench about the atmosphere without fear and corruption which the State Government had promised to facilitate. The opposition members demanded compensation and other measures for the family of Pehelwan Singh, the beat watcher killed by those involved in illegal quarrying. The State Parliamentary Affairs Minister informed the House about the action taken by the State Government in this case. He said that the main accused had been arrested with efforts being underway to nab the rest of the accused. An immediate ex-gratia of `1 lakh had been given to tbe bereaved family, apart from which the chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had also announced monetary assistance of `4,00,000 to the bereaved family. The widow of the victim had also been met and assured of all safety by the authorities, said the Minister.
later during discussion on the vote of thanks to the Governor’s address in the Assembly, the opposition benches raised varied aspects with the leader of opposition Indira Hridayesh expressing concern at there being no reference to the arbitrary manner of functioning of private schools in the Governor’s address. The vote of thanks will be taken up for further debate on Tuesday. Hridayesh also said that the opposition will be keenly observing the State Government for the next six months to see whether it is progressing towards success in fulfilling its claims. A suplimentary budget of `16,048 crore was also tabled in the House on the occasion.
The Transfer Bill and a draft of the lokayukta Act was also tabled in the House on Monday. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prakash Pant said that the lokayukta draft is on the lines of the lokayukta Act passed during 2011 under the Chief Ministership of Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri. Some changes will be made to the lokayukta draft for which the draft will also be taken up for debate in the House on Tuesday.