Gangtok, July 18: The two-day monsoon session of the Sikkim assembly began today with obituary references to former MLA Songpon Luksom and introduction of five bills, besides presentation of demands for grants totalling Rs 74.13 crore. Speaker Kalawati Subba told the house the bills and the demands for grants will be taken up for discussion and voting tomorrow. The bills include the Sikkim Panchayat (amendment) Bill, the Cooperative Societies (amendment) Bill, the Allotment of House Sites and Construction of Building (regulation and control) Amendment Bill and the Industrial Promotions and Incentive (amendment) Bill, 2003.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling later presented the first supplementary demands for grants for the ongoing fiscal. Chamling said these involve a gross expenditure of Rs 74.13 crore, comprising Rs 41.42 crore on revenue accounts and Rs 32.71 crore on capital accounts. Bureau Report