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Maharashtra budget to be presented on March 27

BS Regional Bureau

Maharashtra Finance Minister Jayant Patil will present the state budget in the Assembly on March 27. However, the new electricity bill and slum policy are unlikely to be placed this time too in the Assembly on account of opposition against these two legislations from different quarters.

Housing and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rohidas Patil told reporters in Bombay that Jayant Patil is recovering from a surgery and he himself will present the budget. Jayant Patil had fractured his legs in an accident in Bangalore last week. Deputy chief minister Chaggan Bhujbal currently holds charge of finance minister.

Rohidas Patil said the state government will release the state economic survey on March 23. The budget session will start on March 12 and will continue till April 8, he said.

Governor P C Alexander will address the state Assembly on March 12 and the session will be adjourned after offering condolences to the deceased MLAs and victims of the Gujarat earthquake.

Patil said several ordinances and bills will be placed before the budget presentation on March 27. However, he said the new electricity bill to reform Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) will not be placed this time. Sources said there has been lot of opposition from the smaller parties within the Democratic Front (DF) government.

Rohidas Patil said the slum policy has been forwarded to the standing committee for approval. He said this is being discussed among the NGOs also. The slum policy may be placed on the floor of the house after their approval.

However, Mantralaya sources said this bill too is unlikely to come up for the discussion during the current session of Parliament as the standing committee and NGOs are unlikely to give their approval so soon. The budget will be placed for discussion on March 28 and 29. And, after that, the approval of members will be sought, he said.

Meanwhile, the MLAs supporting the formation of a separate Vidarbha state are planning to boycott the Assembly session on the first day itself.

These MLAs will press the government to place the Godbole committee report for discussion on March 14. And if the government does not accept their demand, these MLAs plan to boycott the state Assembly on this day too.

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