Monsoon Session: Amid protests, Parliament functioned for only 18 hours out of 107 hours

New Delhi, July 31: Rocked by protests from opposition parties on Pegasus snooping and other issues since the start of the Monsoon session, Parliament has only functioned for 18 hours out of the scheduled time of 107 hours, resulting in a loss of more than Rs 133 crore of taxpayers' money, government sources said on Saturday.

Sources said so far 89 hours have been wasted in the ongoing session which started on July 19 and is scheduled to conclude on August 13. According to the details shared by official sources, while Rajya Sabha has functioned for nearly 21 percent of its scheduled time, Lok Sabha has managed to function for less than 13 percent of the scheduled time.

"Lok Sabha has only been allowed to function for about seven hours out of possible 54 hours. "Rajya Sabha has been allowed to function for 11 hours out of possible 53 hours. So far Parliament has functioned only 18 hours out of possible 107 hours (16.8 percent)," the sources said.

The disruptions have led to a loss of more than Rs 133 crore to the exchequer, they said. Opposition parties have been disrupting proceedings in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha demanding discussion on Pegasus snooping, farm laws and other issues.

Amid the din, five bills have been passed in Lok Sabha, besides Appropriation bills. Rajya Sabha has also passed almost a similar number of bills. The opposition and the government have blamed each other for the current deadlock.