The six-day long Monsoon session of the Assembly, which started on Monday is set to witness stormy debates as indicated by the Opposition. The first day of session was adjourned after the presentation of first supplementary Budget of Rs 3908.63 crore for fiscal 2019-20 and paying tributes to Delhi former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, former MP from Dhanbad and trade union leader AK Roy, LJP MP from Samastipur Ramchandra Paswan and others.
However, the Opposition leaders held a protest at the Assembly demanding the Raghubar Das Government to declare drought in State. The lawmakers carrying placards claimed that major parts of State has received deficit monsoon, with paddy sowing yet to commence at several parts of State. The MLAs claimed that State Government should declare drought in entire State. Congress MLA from Lohardaga, Suhkdeo Bhagat said, “From June 1 to July 20, Jharkhand has witnessed 83 per cent deficit monsoon. Districts such as Lohardaga and Palamu are reeling under severe drought like situation. In most of the parts of State, due to poor rainfall paddy sowing is yet to commence. In the areas where paddy sowing has been done, due to inadequate rainfall the paddy saplings are dying.”
The Congress MLA demanded the State Government to constitute a high level committee to tackle the situation. Bhagat said, “An integrated and high level planning should be executed to tackle the situation. The Government should immediately start relief and other welfare measures for farmers.”
Echoing the views of Bhagat, JMM lawmakers too demanded the State Government to declare drought in State. JMM executive president and former Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressing concern over drought-like situation demanded the government to speed up the relief measures in rural areas to tackle the situation.
Earlier, Assembly Speaker Dinesh Oraon expressed confidence that the Monsoon Session of the State Assembly would be fruitful. The Monsoon session of Assembly started today and will continue till July 26. The Speaker also expressed hope that the differences of opinion in past few session between the ruling and Opposition benches would end. In the Monsoon session which is tentatively last Assembly session of present Raghubar Das Government, eight bills which includes Jharkhand Investment Bill, Jharkhand State Motor Vehicle Tax amendment bill, Jharkhand State Universities Amendment Bill 2018 and others will be tabled in the floor of the House.
Addressing lawmakers on the first day of session, Oraon once again stressed on water conservation in the State. He said, “Half of monsoon season has passed without rain. In such situation farmers are facing difficulties in sowing seeds also due to deficit rainfall drinking water is cause of concern for people. Water conservation is need of the hour.” The Speaker, on the occasion, urged all lawmakers to work in the direction of water conservation.