JOIN USWork to revamp the flight of steps at the four entrance of the Vidhana Soudha will be taken up soon as part of a programme to further beautify the majestic seat of power, Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy said on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters at his customary pre-session press conference in Bangalore, Shankaramurthy said the work would be taken up by the Public Works Department. There was also a proposal to use solar power to illuminate the Soudha on all evenings, he said.
At present, Vidhana Soudha is illuminated only on Sunday evening. There is also a proposal to develop a park between Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha, where a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi in meditative mood will be installed. A book tracing the history of Vidhana Soudha will be launched during the budget session, he said.
He said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was of the opinion that the legislature session should be held for at least 60 days in a year.
On the disqualification petition filed by the BJP against six of its MLCs, Shankaramurthy said two of the MLCs - Shivaraj Sajjanar and Mohan Limbikai - had already resigned as members. The remaining four – B J Puttaswamy, Bharati Shetty, Mumtaz Ali Khan and M D Lakshminarayana – had replied to the notices issued to them. The responses had been sent to the petitioner (BJP MLC Ashwathnarayana). Hearing can start once the petitioner gets back.
Shankaramurthy said he personally felt that the provision under Schedule 10 of the Constitution, pertaining to disqualification, needed “more teeth”.
The budget session of the legislature will be held between July 12 and 31.