Assembly committees not functioning the way they should: Speaker

NT NETWORK

 

PANAJI

Speaker Pramod Sawant on Monday lamented that the committees of the state legislative assembly are not functioning the way they should have, as compared to such legislative committees in other states, and said hence fillip would be given to their activities, in the future.

Sawant said that such committees are good forums for all the MLAs to raise various issues and get work done effectively from the bureaucrats. “However, it is seen that these committees do not function, probably due to the less work put in by the legislators,” he observed.

There are altogether 12 committees linked to the state legislative assembly, including the public accounts committee.

Sawant also stated that two to three committees among them are directly linked to the public like public grievances committee, and people in general, can directly make petitions

to these committees on various issues.

Speaking informally to reporters in the backdrop of the 12-day monsoon session of the state legislative assembly, which commences from July 19, the Speaker said that till date the legislators have sent altogether 1,733 questions – 684 starred questions and 1,049 unstarred questions – to the legislature department of the House, with one day left to receive the same. “Almost 90 per cent to 95 per cent of these questions have been sent online by the MLAs, who have fully adapted to this system,” he noted.

The Speaker also maintained that the questions, which were scheduled to be discussed during the budget session of the state legislative assembly, but could not come up for discussion due to the curtailment of the House because of the sudden illness of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will not be taken up during the forthcoming monsoon session since same questions cannot be repeated for two sessions.

Sawant informed that at least 7 Bills are proposed to be tabled in the House, during its monsoon session including amendment to the Goa Lokayukta Act as well as the Town and Country Planning Act, besides Bills on higher education, health, environment and Mopa airport. It was also told that the government could table a Bill to punish those, who do not carry out tenant verification.

Speaking further, the Speaker said that till date, two notices related to private members bills have been received by the legislature department. “After studying their financial implications, they would be forwarded to the government,” he noted.

The first two days of the monsoon session of the state legislative assembly will witness general discussion on the budget, while the remaining eight days would be utilised for discussion on demands. The Business Advisory Committee of the assembly has decided to also utilise the days reserved for private members, for discussion on demands.

The Speaker said that normally the assembly works till 6 pm when in session, however, if need be, he would permit extension of its timing.