Assembly okays UP budget without discussion

Amid a walkout by the entire Opposition, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly passed the Budget for the 2010-11 financial year on Monday without any discussion.

Earlier, the Budget session was reduced from February 24 to February 16 after a meeting of the business advisory committee, although it was vociferously opposed by the Opposition.

In the absence of the Opposition, the Assembly decided to pass the financial grant Bill on February 15. The entire Opposition staged walkout when the proposal to pass the budget was moved in the Assembly.

Samajwadi Party leader Ambikar Chaudhary flayed the state government for trying to escape the debate on the budget and playing with the sentiments of the people.

On February 4, the Mayawati government had tabled a tax-free deficit Budget for 2010-11 in the Assembly. The Budget had projected a deficit of Rs 9,022-crore against revenue and capital expenditure of Rs 153,199 crore and total receipts of Rs 144,177 crore.

The government had not proposed any new taxes to bridge the deficit and instead adjusted Rs 7,002 crore from the Public Account, which still leaves a negative balance of Rs 2,020 crore.

The government had also presented supplementary Budget of Rs 3,132 crore for the current 2009-10 fiscal.

On the last day of the current Budget session, pending legislative business would be taken up, including a Bill on fixing the responsibility of promoters/builders of apartment/flats.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma today tabled the UP Apartment Bill 2010 and it is likely to be passed tomorrow.