LS completes second stage of budget passage

New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) The Lok Sabha today approved the Budgetary Demands for Grants for 2007-08 in respect of 104 ministries and departments totalling Rs 23,59,175 crore.

Out of these, the House has discussed and passed the demands for grants for the Ministries of Science and Technology, Labour and Employment and the Home Affairs separately in the past three days.

The remaining demands were put to vote together today through a guillotine process.

The lower House later passed by voice vote the Appropriation Bill for the amount, moved by Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

With this, the second stage of budget passage has been completed.

The House will take up for its consideration the Finance Bill-2007 next week, marking the final stage of passing the budget.

UNI