Appropriation Bill for 2007 defeated in the Council

Bangalore, Mar 30 (UNI) The Janata Dal (S)-Bharatiya Janata Party Coalition Government suffered a jolt when Appropriation Bill 2007 was defeated by one vote in the Karnataka Legislative Council today.

The Main Opposition Congress, which enjoys majority, defeated the bill presented by Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa when it was put to vote amidst heated exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches.

Mr Yediyurappa, while presenting the Bill appealed to the members to get it passed as it contained the aspirations of the people belonging to all sections of the society and it was intended to achieve overall development of the state. He also appealed to the house to get it passed as it has been already approved in the lower house.

Mr Yediyurappa, in his reply after discussion on the budget proposals for 2007-08 which he had presented in the house on March 16 had also announced several sops and allocations to various communities and institutions including setting up of Banjara Community Development Corporation with Rs 10 crores, increasing the monthly allowance of Anganawadis and earmarking Rs 50 crores for the drinking water project at Yaragol in Kolar district.

Participating in the debate on the budget, the opposition members including H K Patil criticised the state government for reducing the allocation to Power, Irrigation and rural drinking and sanitation programmes. The state government has also not specified the source for earmarking Rs 1590 crores for the implementation of the Dr Nanjundappa Committee on regional imbalance.

When the bill was put to vote, Mr Sachidanand Khot, who was on the chair had announced that the bill was defeated by 27-26 votes amidst slogans and counter slogans by the members.

With the defeat of the bill, the government has to present it again in the Legislative Assembly.

UNI