Bengaluru, 24 September (H.S.):The Karnataka Assembly will meet again on Thursday to continue its discussion on drought after the debate could not be completed as scheduled on Wednesday.

The three-day special session, which also took up the Kasturirangan report on conserving the Western Ghats, had been due to conclude on Wednesday. The Assembly has now been extended by a day to allow members to finish the drought discussion and hear the government’s response.

Deputy Speaker Mankal Vaidya announced the extension in the House. He said the decision followed a request submitted to the Chair by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda.

Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka also agreed to the request, Vaidya said, clearing the way for the Assembly to sit on Thursday. The government is expected to reply to the drought debate during the additional sitting.

The extension gives members more time to raise concerns about drought conditions and the response required from the state government. It also means the special session will run beyond its original three-day schedule.

The Assembly had set aside the session for discussions on two issues affecting different parts of Karnataka: drought and the Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats conservation. Wednesday was intended to be its final day, but the drought debate remained unfinished.

Thursday’s sitting is expected to bring that discussion to a close. Members will have an opportunity to hear the government’s position after the points raised during the debate. No further extension was announced when Vaidya informed the House of the revised schedule.

The decision to continue the session was made with the agreement of both the government, which sought the extra day, and the Opposition leader, who accepted the proposal. The Assembly will therefore reconvene on Thursday for the pending discussion and the government’s reply.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman