By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 26, 2015 : The Odisha Council of Ministers on Thursday endorsed supplementary budget proposal of Rs 10,233 crore, which is nearly double the amount of last year’s supplementary budget. It will be tabled in the ensuing Winter Session of Odisha Assembly.

Priority has been given to agriculture and allied sectors in view of drought prevalent in the state, official sources said. About Rs 1300 crore of demand expenditure has been earmarked for this crucial sector, the sources added.

Besides, to continue eight Centrally-sponsored schemes like BRGF (Backward Region Grant Front) and IAP (Integrated Action Plan) in the State, the Odisha government has reportedly decided to grant from its own exchequer.

This apart, the Odisha Cabinet on Thursday approved 23 proposals in a meeting presided over by chief minister Naveen Patnaik here.

Chief Secretary GC Pati said the Cabinet approved the proposals of the Energy department on amendment in the ongoing schemes of Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana (BGJY) and Biju Saharanchal Vidyutikaran Yojana (BSVY). The cabinet decided to increase assistance to each BPL household in rural areas from Rs 2000 to Rs 3000 while for each BPL household in urban areas, the amount has been revised from Rs 2200 to Rs 3000.

The cabinet also approved a proposal of the Industries department in the amendment of the Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR), 2007 to allow industries who had undertaken the expansion, modernisation and diversification of their units avail VAT reimbursement facility.

The cabinet also approved a proposal of the Works department for fresh tender for improvement of Jagatpur-Nischintkoili-Duhuria road under the financial assistance of the World Bank. The estimated tender for Jagatpur-Nischintkoili (25 km) and Nischintkoili-Duhuria 24 km) is Rs 107.38 crore and Rs 97.89 crore respectively. The work would be completed in 18 months.

This apart, the state cabinet also approved the recommendation of the report of Justice SK Mohanty Commission of Inquiry into the police firing at Bagalpur village under Olatpur police station limits under Cuttack Sadar on August 23, 2010 and the report of Justice Pradyumna Kumar Mohanty Commission of Inquiry into the death of four devotees in a stampede inside Shri Jagannath temple in Puri on November 4, 2006.

Replying to the steps taken by the state government as per the recommendation of Justice PK Mohanty, principal secretary, home Asit Kumar Tripathy said the temple administration has installed seven CCTVs inside the temple while the work is underway to install two more CCTVs within a week.

In yet another decision to check the defection of the elected members of the Zilla Parishad and urban local bodies (ULBs) to other political parties, the cabinet chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik also approved amendment of the Zilla Parishad Act.

To prevent defection in the Zilla Parishad, the cabinet approved a proposal in the amendment of the Zilla Parishad Act with the provision of anti-defection law. Under the existing three-tier Panchayati Raj system, election to the Zilla Parishad is done on party basis. The political parties field their candidates for the election to the Parishad with their respective party symbols.

Earlier, there was no provision on the consequence of defection to other parties after the election. Taking note of this, the state cabinet decided that its approval of the proposal in the incorporation of some provisions relating to defection would be placed in the State Assembly in its next session for approval.

Panchayati Raj commissioner-cum-secretary, Deoranjan Kumar Singh said there will be insertion of sub-section of 33 (b), 33 (c), 33 (d) and 33 (4) in Section 33 of the Anti-defection Act. Under the new provision of the Act, if an elected candidate of a political party voluntarily resigns from the party, his/her membership in the Parishad would be cancelled.

In addition, if an elected member of the political party works against the wishes of his/her party directives by casting votes in the election of the president, vice president or standing committee, he/she will cease to qualify as the member. The same provision would also be applicable to an elected Independent member if he/she joins a political party after the election.

The state government would leave the decision of disqualification of zilla parishad members to the State Election Commission (SEC) for which it would move a bill to this effect in the next session of the State Assembly.