Bhubaneswar,Sep 29 (UNI) The monsoon session of the Odisha Assembly commenced today amid COVID-19 pandemic adhering to all COVID protocols. The session which has eight working days including Sunday is scheduled to continue till October 7 next.
Before the commencement of the session, a corona test was conducted for the members, Assembly staff , security personnel and journalists for three days from September 26 to 29. The persons who tested negative were allowed entry to Assembly premises .
Official sources said 19 MLAs including Ministers were tested positive during the test and barred from attending the monsoon session.
Inside the Assembly arrangements were made in Assembly hall, visitors gallery, DV gallery and Speaker gallery for the members to participate in the proceedings maintaining social distancing.
Wearing of masks has been made mandatory and glass sheets were fixed around seat of members to prevent the spread of the virus
Projectors were installed inside the Assembly conference hall for the media persons to cover the Assembly proceedings.
Arrangements have been made for members who could not make it to the Assembly and wanted to participate in the proceedings through video conferencing.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is participating in the business of the house through video conferencing from his residence Naveen Niwas.
Six members are participating in the proceedings through video conferencing from Lok Seva Bhawan,
Mr Bishnu Sethi of BJP is participating in the business of the house from Bhadrak, Works minister Prafulla Mallik is participating from Dhenkanal.
Every day the house will function for four and half hour in two sittings.
Except today ,on the inaugural day, the house will start at 1030 hrs to 13 hrs every day and again from 1500 hrs to 1630 hrs.
The house started its business at 11AM and was adjourned after adopting the obituary reference. The house is scheduled to meet again at 1500hrs and would continue till 1630 hrs.
