Water tariff big issue at session starting Monday
The LDF would start off with the bribe issue
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 14 day session of the Assembly, which will start on Monday, will pass 19 bills in place of the ordinances.
Among the issues to figure will be the recommendations to increase the water tariff, the new liquor policy and the bribery allegations against Finance Minister K. M. Mani.
While 11 days have been set apart for passing ordinances, two days will be taken up for ex-officio members of the Assembly and a day for the demand for supplementary Bills.
According to Speaker G. Karthikeyan, the first day would consider the subject committee’s referred Bill, 2014 university laws (third amendment) Bill due to certain colleges being awarded with autonomy status and the 2014 Kerala Panchayat Raj (second amendment) bill.
A resolution seeking the ordinances to be sent to the subject committee includes 2014 Kerala Maritime Board Bill and 2014 Kerala Agriculture University (amendment) Bill.
The business advisory committee meeting to be held on December 1 will discuss the remaining Bills that would be considered on the remaining days of the session.
While the Speaker has urged all the legislators to actively participate in the debates to pass the Bills, all eyes will be on how the Opposition will take up the bargate as well as the water tariff increase. CPM leader Thomas Isaac said the LDF would start off with the bribe issue.
“Since the Assembly is meeting for the first time after the bribe issue came up and also after the decision to hike land tax and water tariff, the Opposition would mount an intense attack on the ruing front,” he added.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala ridiculed Dr Isaac’s claim saying that the LDF was a divided house. “In the bargate, none of the bar owners have given their statement to the police. Let them come before us with proof. Then we will fight them tooth and nail,” he said.