Additional Appropriation Bill passed in Odisha Assembly

Bhubaneswar: The Legislative Assembly passed the Additional Rs 12790 crore-Odisha Appropriation Bill, 2018, on Monday whose value is estimated to be nearly 10.6 per cent of the total budget.

Odisha Finance minister Shashi Bhusan Behera informed that the amount will be used by the State government for its 1-rupee rice scheme, scholarships for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students, education and health sector, village development projects, social sector and promotion of industrial sector.

"The Additional budget bill is nearly 10% of the main budget and 75% of this amount will be used for the development of various infrastructure," Behera said.

However, the Opposition, discontent with the reply of the Finance Minister, staged a walkout during the discussion on the Appropriation Bill in the Assembly.

It may be noted that earlier on May 1, the Legislative Assembly had passed the Odisha Appropriation Bill, 2018, allowing the state government to utilise the annual Budget of Rs 1.22 lakh crore for the current fiscal from its consolidated fund.