Like on the first day of the session, the opposition Congress staged a walkout from the House also on the last day on Friday. This time, however, the protest was over a resolution relating to the crude oil royalty from the Centre.

Industry minister Saurabh Patel brought in a resolution alleging that the UPA government was not giving the rightful crude royalty of Rs1,500 crore to Gujarat. Patel, in his resolution, said the state had received a royalty of Rs508.15 crore and Rs589.62 crore during 2000-01 and 2001-02, and Rs1,881 crore and Rs1,719 crore during 2006-07 and 2007-08 respectively.

As the vote-on-account session ends, DNA sums up what transpired in the House on the last day

As the special vote-on-account session that began on February 17 came to an end on Friday, the BJP government announced five industrial incentive schemes in the state assembly under rule 44 of the House. These schemes come after nearly two months of the announcement of the new industrial policy 2009.

The House on Friday cleared the Special Investment Region (SIR) Bill 2009 for which an ordinance was passed earlier by the government. Minister of state for industry & finance Saurabh Patel proposed the bill which was cleared by majority.

The state government has already notified Dholera-Ahmedabad SIR region and has also received Rs1,00,000 crore investment proposals in the recently concluded Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit 2009.

It has also identified other five SIR regions —Vadodara-Ankleshwar, Palanpur-Mehsana, Surat-Hazira, Valsad-Umergam, Bharuch-Dahej. An investment region will be developed in area of more than 100 sq km while industrial area will be developed in area of more than 50 sq km.

Kushal Singh succeeds Samant as top order of bureaucracy is shuffled

The Ashok Gehlot government is going for its first cabinet expansion on Saturday. The fresh batch of ministers will to be sworn in at the governor's official residence in Jaipur.

According to reports from the party, 10 MLAs would be sworn in on Saturday. Some of the prominent names who could be inducted in the state cabinet are: Dr Jitendra Singh, Ramlal Jat, Bharosilal Jatav, Ashok Bairwa, Mangilal Garasia, Rajendra Pareek, Pramod Jain Bhaya, Babulal Nagar, Ameen Khan and Gurmeet Singh Kunnar.

The Ashok Gehlot Government's decision to make use of agriculture land for residential schemes easier is likely to revive the real estate market in the state.

The builders and consumers of the state believe the amendments in Section 90-B of the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, which deals with use of land for residential schemes, will give a boost to the market that has seen poor sales due to global recession.

With provision of time-bound approval of the schemes, the cost of budget involved in construction process will be reduced that will further extend benefit to the buyers, both investors and end users. The realtors feel that the new amendments would give a fillip to the real estate market and ensure transparency.

Congress Parliamentarian allays fears of joining politics

Congress MP Priya Dutt on Friday participated in a women's meet organised by the Vadodara Congress to boost the membership drive of the Youth Congress.

The membership drive, initiated by the Youth Congress president, Rahul Gandhi, aims, at a broader level, to bring about a change in the political system. After the success of such an initiative in Punjab, the Youth Congress is now working hard to bring more youths in politics. With this objective, the Youth Congress has initiated a membership drive across the state. Rahul Gandhi has himself visited almost all parts of the state to generate enthusiasm among the youth to join the Youth Congress.