Chhattisgarh Assy passes budget

Raipur, Mar 17 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh Assembly today passed a Rs 16,473-crore budget and the related appropriation bill by voice vote.

Replying to the debate on the bill, Chief Minister Raman Singh -- who holds the Finance portfolio -- said, ''the government has demanded that the royalty on mineral be made value-based vis-a-vis coal and iron ore-producing states in the Centre's Mineral Committee draft, which is being prepared. The Centre is ayeing this in principle with regard to coal.'' He claimed that the government decided to provide free single-point connections to 8.40 lakh families living Below Poverty Line.

''Kerala and Chhattisgarh are the only two states that disburse agricultural loans at six per cent interest,'' Dr Singh said while alleging that the Centre slashed by 25 per cent the grant for the universal education campaign.

The Vidhan Sabha's budget session, which began on February 19, concluded today.

UNI