Amaravati: Budget session likely from June 16, cabinet will decide schedule

Amaravati: The AP government has finalised tentative dates for conducting Budget session from this month 16. The Budget Session likely to be carried for at least five to seven working days, according to the officials at the Secretariat.

In fact, the AP budget was supposed to present in March itself. Due to spread of the COVID19 pandemic, the government promulgated an Ordinance. That allowed the government to spend the money from public exchequer. Now, the government is going to introduce the budget for the remaining Financial Year. Apart from that, the government will have to get approval from the Assembly for the already spent amount.

On June 19, the MLAs will participate in the Rajya Sabha biennial elections. On the first day of commencement of the Budget Session, that is on June 16, the Government has been planning to ensure the Governor's speech addressing the joint House, including Assembly and Council. The following day, the government will introduce the budget and also move the thanksgiving motion to the Governor's address to the House, according to the sources. The government has been planning to present the Socio Economic Survey and CAG reports also in this Budget Session.

The officials informed that, all these are tentative expected short schedules in order to complete the Budget Session as early as possible in view of the threat posed by the Coronavirus in the State and country. The complete agenda and duration of the Session will be finalized in the ensuring cabinet meeting scheduled on June 11.

Already at least 10 officials working at the Secretariat have been infected with the coronavirus, according to the reports. Sensing this, the employees working in the secretariat and Assembly have been expressing fears on the possible threat of rampant spread of the virus.

In addition to that, the government has been planning to conduct the Assembly session by maintaining physical distance.