Naveen assures budgetary provision for enhanced MLA LAD fund

Bhubaneswar, Mar 22 (UNI)In an attempt to pacify the agitated members in the Orissa Assembly, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today assured to make additional budget provision to cover the enhanced MLA LAD fund during 2007-2008.

Making a statement over the members' resentment in the House for non-implementation of his announcement to hike the MLA LAD fund from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 75 lakh, Mr Patnaik said he was willing to make an additional budget provision for the hike in the fund.

The Chief Minister said his announcement did not contain any specific commitment that it would be applicable from the year 2006-2007, adding that if his statement had created any confusion in the minds of the member that such enhancement would be effective from 2006-2007, he would make additional budget provision to cover the hiked amount during 2007-2208.

Mr Patnaik said the members cutting across party lines had requested that the MLA LAD fund be enhanced to meet the growing demands from the people of their constituencies for various critical requirement.

He said the announcement to enhance the MLA LAD fund from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 75 lakh was made by him on November 25, 2006, when the Appropriation Bill for the first supplementary budget for 2006-2007 had already been placed and passed on the same day.

The Chief Minister said it was not feasible to incur expenditure for the enhanced amount within 2006-2007 following the application of model code of conduct, which came into effect from December 26,2006.

He, however, said when the House passed the vote on account for 2007-2008, necessary priority would be accorded to the projects identified during 2006-2007 for implementation in 2007-2008.

UNI