The Himachal Pradesh Assembly was adjourned sine die on Friday, with ten sittings held since September 7 in its Monsoon Session amid strict Covid-19 protocols. This was the first Session of the State Assembly after restrictions were imposed on March 24 in Himachal Pradesh in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

Before adjourning the House, Speaker Vipin Singh Parmar said this Session would become history as it had been held under adverse circumstances. Several important issues were discussed in the House during the Session, he said, added a discussion on Covid-19 situation by an adjournment motion under Rule 67 lasted 6 hours and 25 minutes.

This is the first time that a discussion was held under Rule 67, the Speaker said. Under Rule 67, all other business of the House is "interrupted in the course of a sitting by an adjournment motion", according to the rules and procedures of the assembly. Parmar said that answers to 434 starred and 223 unstarred questions were laid during the Question Hour of the session. The Speaker thanked the leader of the House Jai Ram Thakur and the Leader of the Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri for smooth conduct of the Monsoon Session.

Parmar in a special mention said that the senior-most member of the House and former chief minister, Virbhadra Singh, was present for the Session despite the Covid-19 scare. Earlier the Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition also spoke in the Assembly.

CM ANNOUNCES RESTORATION OF MLALAD FUND FOR LEGISLATORS

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday announced the restoration of the MLA local area development (MLALAD) fund over five months after it was suspended. Informing the State Assembly on the last day of Monsoon Session on Friday, the chief minister said the MLALAD fund would be restored and its first installment of Rs 25 lakh would be released in October.

The State Government had in April decided to suspend the MLALAD fund for two years to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanking the Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri said the Congress legislators had met him to discuss the issue. It is not a personal fund for the MLAs but will be spent on different areas and villages of the constituencies, he added. Majority of MLAs were in favour of restoration of the MLALAD for ensuring development work in their segments.

They were of the view that this fund of Rs 1.75 crore per year should be restored for legislators immediately for ensuring development work in their respective constituencies.

COVID-19 LED TO DELAY IN REPAIR OF DAMAGED KULLY BRIDGE

Covid-19 has delayed the repair work of Kullu's damaged Bhoothnath bridge and a new target of opening it for vehicular traffic has been fixed for next year, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur informed the state assembly on Friday. Replying to a call attention motion of Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur regarding delay in repair of the bridge, the CM said it was delayed due to Covid-19 related restrictions.

The bridge is significant for the smooth flow of traffic in Kullu and also connects tourist destination Manali, he said. The State Government wants to get the repair work completed at the earliest but some technical problems and Covid led to delays, Thakur added. Now, a new target has been fixed to open the bridge after its repair by March 31, 2021, he stated. Earlier, it was supposed to be opened in June, he pointed out. The tenders for repair were invited in April last year after the bridge had been closed for vehicular traffic in January, 2019 as it had developed cracks, he added.

The company to which the repair work has been allotted submitted its design on July 3 and the work has now also been started. Meanwhile, an alternative bailey bridge has been constructed for smooth flow of traffic, he added. Having remained opened around five years ago, the bridge near Kullu city bus stand and Bhoothnath temple was not safe for vehicular traffic. The 96-metre-long double-lane bridge over the Beas river at Bhoothnath was constructed at a cost of Rs 10 crore and was inaugurated by then chief minister Virbhadra Singh on October 9, 2013.