Budget Session likely to last till May first week

Chennai, Mar 20 (UNI) The Budget Session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, which began yesterday, is likely to last till the first week of May.

Talking to reporters after the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting, Speaker R Avudaiyappan said as per the programme finalised till April 11, there would be a general debate on the Budget from March 24 to March 31.

On March 31, Finance Minister K Anbazhagan would reply to the debate.

From April one, the demand for grants for various departments would be taken up. Of a total of 51 demands, the demand for grants in respect of 12 had been decided till April 11.

The BAC would meet again on April eight and finalise the rest of the duration of the Session.

''It is likely to last till the first week of May,'' he added.

To a question, the Speaker, who turned 65 today, said there would be Question Hour on all the Assembly days.

In all, 14 of the 17 members of the BAC attended the meeting held at his Chamber today.

The House was adjourned after adopting condolence resolutions on the opening day yesterday and the Finance Minister presented the Budget for 2008-09 today. After a three-day holiday due to Good Friday and Meelad-un-Nabi tomorrow and weekends, the Session would commence from Monday.

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