HYDERABAD: Assembly Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy has expressed concern over the steep decline in the duration of debates on budgetary proposals made by the Government in the House.

"It is a disturbing factor that no proper discussion is held on the budget that is an important document of the Government," he said. He was participating in a workshop on `budget reporting' organised by the Andhra Pradesh Press Academy in association with the Media Advisory Committee of the Assembly.

Stating that members need to ponder over the duration of the budget session, he said a majority of demands were being guillotined, as the House could not take up debate on them.

Numbers game

Participating in an interactive session with reporters later, Special Chief Secretary, Finance, P.

Ramakanth Reddy said the department was preparing the budget estimates with due diligence in consultation with the departments concerned as well as the Planning Commission.

To an observation on the budget turning out to be quantitative, he said: "Every one likes numbers and you have to play with numbers once in a while. That is the game of the day." On the mismatch in allocation and spending, he said though the Government would make allocations based on the importance of the sectors.

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