Speaker to refer 'non-utilisation' of fund to Privilege panel

Assam Assembly Speaker Pranab Kumar Gogoi today said he would refer to the Privilege Committee alleged inaction over non-utilisation of a two-year old flood relief fund for Sonitpur district despite his ruling on the issue in the last session of the House.
"I will take serious action if nothing has happened even after a ruling by me in last session. It is a breach of privilege and I will refer the matter to the Privilege Committee of the Assembly," Gogoi said inside the House.
The Speaker will take action as per recommendations of the Privilege Committee in its report, he added.

Gogoi expressed concern over two government departments' attempt to shy away from their responsibilities over the serious issue.
"We have to find out whose responsibility it is. It cannot go on like this," the Speaker said.
Raising the topic as 'Point of Order' during the Zero Hour, AGP MLA Padma Hazarika called for the Speaker's attention over non-implementation of his ruling given during the last session of the Assembly in August this year.

"You (Speaker) had given a ruling that the Rs 1.54 crore fund, which is lying idle, for Sonitpur district announced in 2012 be utilised. These were for flood victims. Now winter has come and nothing has happened yet," he added.

Hazarika claimed the fund was under CM's Special Package and all other districts in the state have utilised their flood relief funds for helping the victims.
On his query, Disaster Management Minister Prithibi Majhi said it did not fall under his purview as it was "CM's Special Package".
Countering him, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nilamani Sen Deka said all funds under CM's Special Package are always distributed to respective departments for usage under concerned topics.