Bhopal, Mar 12: The opposition staged a walkout in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly today after being dissatisfied over rejection of a demand for division of votes prior to passing of budgetary demands of the Water Resource and Higher Education departments.

Leader of the Opposition Jamuna Devi and others demanded the division after Water Resource Minister Anup Mishra's reply to a debate on budgetary demands. Speaker Ishwardas Rohani's rejection led to pandemonium by members. Rohani expressed displeasure over the behaviour of Ms Devi and Ramlakhan Sharma (Communist Party of India-Marxist) and expunged their remarks targeting the chair.

''Additional irrigation capacity has been created over 5.42 lakh hectares. Under the Interstate River Linkage Scheme, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have agreed in principle over the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Linkage Project and work will be initiated as soon as the Centre prepares a detailed project report,'' said Mishra. He announced the formation of a Higher Education Commission.

After the Minister's reply, demands exceeding Rs 1,954 crore were passed.

Rs 2157 cr suppl budget presented

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Mar 12: Finance Minister Raghavji today presented the third supplementary budget of Rs 2157.29 crore for the fiscal year 2007-08 in the State Assembly. A two-hour discussion on the supplementary demands would be held tomorrow, Speaker Ishwardas Rohani said.

The supplementary budget provides for allocation of Rs 151 lakh to the Chitrakoot University for providing additional infrastructure and Rs 14 lakh to the Public Relations department for payment of wages to daily wage employees and purchase of vehicles.

A provision of Rs two crore was made for salary and allowances, furniture, petrol and vehicles for the proposed new districts of Alirajpur and Singrouli, while Rs 2.08 crore was provided for 30 new tehsils.