Delhi Assembly's Budget session ends

New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) The Budget Session of Delhi Assembly ended today after the House passed the national capital's Rs 13,345 crore budget for 2006-07.

The state government faced considerable embarrassment more due to party dissidents than the opposition as it had to withdrew three important bills in the assembly after select committees rejected them.

Also, the Assembly accepted two Public Accounts Committee reports that found irregularities in government functioning and sought CBI probes in the 12-day session.

On March 6, in what could be seen as a major jolt to the government's legislative functioning, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit withdrew the controversial Delhi Water Board (Amendment) Bill 2005 that proposed to regulate and impose a cess on groundwater, as also the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (Second Amendment) Bill 2004 and New Delhi Municipal Council (Amendment) Bill, 2004 both of which sought to increase fine amounts from 20 to 50 per cent.

Though forced to accept the ''rejection'' report of the select committees constituted to go into the subjects after considerable pressure from dissidents, Ms Dikshit said the select Committee had not followed ''due procedure''. However, this was objected to by the committee members.

On March 10, Delhi Assembly accepted two Public Accounts Committee reports that indicated irregularities in privatisation of power distribution in the national capital and issuance of 'Smart Cards' state Transport Department and recommended a CBI probe into the issue.

Much to the chargin of Delhi governent, a PAC report adopted said the entire matter of 'Smart Cards' issued by the city's Transport Department should be handed over to the CBI for a thorough probe into the acts and omissions of the officers of the department.

Persons who had benefited from contract whether from the department or from the vendor (private manufacturing) company as well as any middlemen need to be identified and punished, it added.

On March 1, the Assembly had adopted a similar report on the power privatisation issue as well. That report too suggested that irregularities had been committed and sought a CBI investigation.

The investigative agency would have to give its report on both the issues within three months.

Yesterday, Delhi Assembly passed the state's budget for 2006-07 by a voice vote.

Replying to a four-day long debate on the budget, Delhi Finance Mininster A K Walia said it would herald all round development of the national capital and catapult it to international standards.

He said unlike the previous BJP Governments, he was able to spend the money provided to the state by the Central Government.

''We had not only been successful in using money whereever it was required but also sought to spend more funds on almost all fronts,'' he added.

The minister also enumerated progress made by the Government on various counts in the last fiscal.

He indicated that the state would request for additional funds from the Centre for its development and build up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

On March 9, Dr Walia had presented a Rs 2059.43 crore deficit budget for 2006-07 but cheered up citizens by reducing the prices of cooking gas, desi ghee, footwear and few other key items even while introducing no new tax.

UNI IP VD KP1937