Odisha Assembly passes bill for additional expenditure in FY18

Amid a walk out by Opposition BJP, the Legislative Assembly today passed a bill allowing the state government an additional expenditure of Rs 9,828.56 crore from its consolidated fund during this fiscal.
The Odisha Appropriation (No 2) Bill, 2017, introduced by state Finance Minister S B Behera, was passed by voice vote.
The BJP members staged a walk out, protesting the minister's reply during passing of the bill.
"The additional expenditure statement stressed on making provision for additional beneficiaries under old-age pension and 'Mamata' programme for pregnant women, scholarship for ST and SC students and other infrastructure projects," Behera said.

Referring to questions raised by certain members, he said, "The state's debt burden was well under the permissible limit.