The controversial 2G spectrum allocation may have caused colossal losses to the national exchequer, but the continuing opposition protests over a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) also have led to a huge financial drain.
Barring the first day of the ongoing winter session that began Nov 9, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have not functioned normally for even one full day to transact legislative business.
According to official figures, the total budget of the two houses of parliament and the ministry of parliamentary affairs for 2010-11 is nearly Rs 535 crore.
In a year, parliament meets thrice, for the budget, monsoon and winter sessions. In the past five years (2005-09), there have been an average of 68 sittings per year. That means, the expenditure for each day of a session is nearly Rs 7.8 crore.
Though parliament's establishment works round the year, the expenditure per day has to be worked out according to the number of sittings because the entire staff, logistics and other expenses are incurred solely for the institution to conduct its legislative business. Otherwise, there would be no need to have the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha secretariats and their sprawling offices.
The ruling and opposition parties blame each other for the stalemate and the consequent loss of time and public money.
No comments:
Post a Comment