Ramakanta Biswas

All legislators of the Odisha Legislative Assembly will undergo Covid19 RT-PCR tests ahead of the commencement of the Monsoon session. The monsoon session is scheduled to begin on September 1. 

A decision in this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro today. Apart from the MLAs, their drivers, personal staff and all workers and staff working in the Assembly will undergo COVID-19 tests, a statement issued by the public relations officer of the Speaker said.

As per the decision in the meeting, a three-day drive will be held for the RT-PCR test of the legislators on the Assembly premises from August 29 to 31. Two sessions will be conducted in a day. While the first session will start at 8.30 am and continue till 1.30 pm, the second session will be held between 3 pm and 5 pm. 

The legislators and other employees whose Covid-19 test results will come out negative will be allowed entry into the House. Members of the House will be given masks, sanitizers and gloves everyday of the assembly session. 

The members of the legislative assembly (MLAs), their personal staff, workers and staff of the Secretariat who have not received at least one dose of Covid vaccine will not be allowed entry into the House. 

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been tasked with sanitizing the entire Assembly ahead of the commencement of the session, the statement added.

scrollToTop