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Vananchal bill to be sent to Bihar

Throwing the statehood issue in Bihar's court once again, Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment Babu Lal Marandi today said the creation of Vananchal would be delayed if the proposed Bihar State Re-organisation Bill was not returned on time by the Bihar legislature. The Centre has decided to send the bill to Bihar for ratification.

Marandi said the required constitutional procedures regarding the state's creation had been completed by the Centre. A draft of the proposed bill would be cleared by the Central Cabinet tomorrow for being sent to President K R Narayanan for his assent and ratification of the state concerned.

He said the Centre would request the President to ensure the return of the bill within a week so that it could be tabled in Parliament and passed during the winter session which would begin on November 29.

Reiterating his party's commitment, he said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance had taken up the issue on a priority basis and was working for its early creation. Marandi was hopeful that the bill would be cleared during the winter session.

UNI

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