J&K govt to present Budget on March 7

Jammu, Feb 8 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir government hasannounced that it will present the Budget in the StateLegislative Assembly on March 7.

The Assembly Secretariat has issued a provisionalcalendar for the Budget Session, which begins in the wintercapital of the state on February 28.

Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather will present theBudget on March 7. Discussions will be held on the proposedBudget on March 7 and 8.

Subsequently, Rather will announce any changes to theBudget on the basis of the discussions on March 9, after whichit will be passed.

According to the calendar, there will be 25 sittingsduring the entire Budget Session. "The session will begin onFebruary 28 with the Governor''s Address and will conclude onApril 9," it said.

"There will be government business from March 1 to March23 and Appropriation Bills will be taken on March 24," itsaid.

The Private Members Resolutions will be taken on April 2and 6, whereas Private Members Bills will be taken on April 5and 7, it said, adding that there will be holidays from March25 to 31.

For the first time, the requests for grants of 28government departments will be presented and debated to makeministers and bureaucrats accountable legislators, J&KAssembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone said today.