HP Assembly passes budget estimates for 2007-08

Shimla, Mar 30 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Assembly today passed the general Budget for 2007-08 and the related Appropriation Bill, authorising the government to spend Rs 10,432 crore from the Consolidated Fund during the current financial year.

The House discussed the demand pertaining to Health department yesterday and Irrigation and Public Health Department today, while the remaining demands were passed without discussion after the Speaker applied the guillotine at 1600 hrs.

All the cut motions moved by the opposition were rejected by a voice vote.

Earlier, state Irrigation and Public Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, replying to the discussion on cut motion of irrigation and public health department, tabled by the opposition, denied any discrimination in the allotment of funds for the various irrigation and drinking water supply schemes.

Reading out figures from the Budget estimates, he said there was no discrimination with any region and the BJP was just trying to oppose the estimates for the sake of opposition.

He said Shimla and Solan drinking water supply schemes, which were under construction at a cost of Rs 66 amd Rs 55 crore, would be completed by October this year.

Reiterating his government's resolve to provide clean drinking water facility to all the habitations of the state, he said efforts were on to improve the quality of the water as well.

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