Vananchal Bill sent to President -- Marandi

Vananchal Bill sent to President -- Marandi
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

RANCHI, JANUARY 17: Union Minister of State for Forests and Environment Babulal Marandi on Monday said the Vananchal Bill has been sent to President K R Narayanan for his approval.

The people of South Bihar plateau should not doubt the intentions of BJP on Vananchal issue as the process for its long-awaited passage in the Parliament has begun, Marandi said here.

The minister alleged that the Opposition in Bihar was spreading a misinformation campaign regarding the Bill's passage to tarnish BJP's image on the eve of forthcoming Assembly polls in Bihar. The Opposition design was manifest in reports in a section of press here that the Vananchal Bill has not been sent to the President so far which is not true, Marandi said.

When asked why despite repeated assurances about the passage of the Vananchal Bill during the winter session of Parliament the Bill was not cleared, Marandi said paucity of time, presence of too many Bills on the Parliament's winter session agenda and the constitutional constraintsinvolved in the process were the factors responsible for it.