Pondy CM Holds Talks with Jt Secy to Get Nod for Draft Budget

Puducherry, June 6 (PTI) A day after the Assembly was adjourned sine-die without the 2018-19 budget being presented, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today held discussions with the joint secretary in the home ministry to get the draft budget cleared at the earliest.

Sources said Narayanasamy was accompanied by the special representative of Puducherry government in New Delhi, A John Kumar.

The assemblybegan its session on June 4 amid expectation that a budget for the fiscal 2018-2019 would be adopted.

But the House adjourned abruptly the next day with the debate on the motion of thanks for the Lt Governor's address remaining inconclusive, drawing flak from political parties.

When the opposition AIADMK sought clarification on why the budget could not be tabled, Narayanasamy had said the draft budget was forwarded to the home ministry, which was yet to approve it. As such,no date for tabling it could be finalised.

He also said he would meet the ministry officials to get the nod for the budget.

Narayanasamy had said that unlike bigger states, budgets of the union territories should first get the approval of the ministry before being tabled in the territorial assembly.

He met Govind Mohan, joint secretary in the home ministry, the sources said

The House had met for a day on March 26 when funds for the first four months (April to July) were sanctioned through vote on account.

This was to ensure that the government departments had the funds to meet their expenditure during the first four months of the fiscal 2018-19.

AIADMK leader A Anbalagan had alleged that the Centre was trying to cause an embarrassing situation by delaying its approval of the draft budget.

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