Himachal Pradesh Assembly to work for an hour today

Ashwani Sharma

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Assembly, which will resume its session on Monday after a weeklong break, will transact its business only for one-hour to pass the state's Budget for the next fiscal and will thereafter adjourn sine die, midway through its scheduled

sittings.

The abrupt ending of the session comes in the wake of Coronavirus spread, ban on public gathering, including social, religious and political ones, and a lockdown ordered by some of the neighbouring states like Punjab and

Delhi.

The Assembly session, earlier, was slated to end in the first week of April.

The decision was taken by the state government, after consultations with the Opposition leader Mukesh Agnihotri, a former Congress minister, and other political leaders including Left's Rakesh

Singha.

The House will meet at 11 am, instead of 2 pm and will pass the Budget.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur also announced a complete lockdown of the passenger transport services, barring emergencies in the state. Shimla Beopar Mandal has already announced a lockdown in Shimla while all hotels and restaurants, business establishments have been closed

already.

State's additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman also issued a notification about the lockdown in Kangra – state's biggest district where two Coronavirus cases were tested positive three days ago and a large number of persons and families have been put under home quarantine conditions as part of precautionary measures in the

district.

A man identified as Kshuti Prakash was on Saturday booked under section 188 of the IPC in Hamirpur district for organising a 'jagran' (religious gathering) comprising about 35 persons in violation of Section 144 of

CrPC.

Himachal Pradesh has reported two cases of Coronavirus. A 32-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman have been found suffering from Coronavirus. Both are admitted at Dr Rajendra Prashad Medical college, Tanda,

Kangra.

State's additional CS (Health) Informed that 31 samples were tested on Sunday of which 24 were reported negative and reports of rest seven are awaited.

During Janata Curfew on Sunday Himachal Pradesh witnessed an unprecedented response in all 12 districts including tribal districts of Lahaul-Spiti and

Kinnaur