J&k Assembly passes Appropriation Bills

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today passed two Appropriation Bills to authorise payment and withdrawal from the state's consolidated fund for the 2013-14 fiscal.
The Bills were introduced by state Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather in the Assembly today and passed by voice vote.
Replying to points raised during discussion on the Bills, Rather said that the grant of scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Pahari-speaking people of the state has been taken up with the Centre.
The Social Welfare department has constituted a committee of research scholars for this with a stipulation that the report shall be made available within a period of four months, he said.

Responding to another point, Rather said the proposal for development of an environmental park at the Gangerg Hills of Udhampur has been submitted to the forest department and the draft Master Plan for Udhampur has been submitted by the Chief Town Planner, Jammu to the government recently.