Kathmandu: Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, today summoned the budget session of Parliament at 4:00pm on May 8.

Earlier, a meeting of the Cabinet had decided to summon the new session of the Parliament on May 8.

Spokesperson for the Parliament Secretariat Dasharath Dhamala said the secretariat was trying to have adequate precautionary measures against coronavirus pandemic.

A three-member team of the Ministry of Health and Population, after visiting the Parliament building, told the Parliament Secretariat to adopt additional measures to prevent the risk of COVID-19 infection on the Parliament premises.

Dhamala said the secretariat would try to implement the team’s suggestions to the extent possible.

The ministry’s team has told the Secretariat to have seating arrangement in houses in such a way that two seats remain vacant between two lawmakers, houses are sanitised before meetings, restrooms and handrails are frequently disinfected and the rostrum is disinfected after a speaker uses it.
 
The team also told the Secretariat to shut the central air conditioning system during debates and to ensure that all lawmakers washed their hands properly before entering the houses.

The team has also told the Secretariat to sanitise microphones after they are used.

The Secretariat will also screen all lawmakers for fever and isolate anyone suffering from fever. During House discussion, all doors will remain open and all members will be requested to use gloves and face masks.

Dhamala said the Secretariat expected political parties to send minimum number of lawmakers for discussion in the House to reduce the risk of infection in the Parliament. The Parliament Secretariat will reduce the length of prebudget discussion as the House of Representatives Regulation stipulates that pre-budget discussion should end 15 days before the budget is presented in the House.

https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/budget-session-scheduled-to-begin-on-may-8/