Shillong, March 2: The Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government is bracing for a stormy budget session of the state Assembly, beginning March 11.

A range of issues, including non-payment of salaries to teachers, anomalies in the health department, alleged power theft by industrial units in Byrnihat, destruction of the country?s longest cave system by cement factories and the uranium mining controversy at Domiasiat, is likely to dominate the month-long session.

The Opposition and several members of the ruling coalition are reportedly preparing to bare their fangs on the floor of the House over the introduction of the ?draft code of conduct?.

The MDA introduced the draft recently to prevent ruling coalition legislators from questioning ministers and the government inside and outside the Assembly.

It came under severe fire and led to the ouster of planning board co-chairman P.T. Sawkmie.

Primarily a tool to curb ?dissident activity? within the MDA, the code of conduct has separate guidelines for individual members, political parties and Independents affiliated to the coalition.

There are separate rules for ministers, MDA co-ordination committee members, including the chairmen, secretaries and spokespersons.

The guidelines do not allow any member of the MDA alliance ?to speak out or ventilate any view against the coalition government in public?.

Whoever fails to abide by this code will be punished and can be stripped off his post within the MDA.

A source in the MDA said: ?A number of MDA legislators are preparing to challenge the government?s decision since they have the right to know about the policies and programmes and even question the government.?

However, the government was more worried about irregularities in supply of medicines in the health department, alleged destruction of the cave system by cement factories and the uranium mining controversy.

Sources said the alleged irregular pricing of medicines, anomalies over promotions and non-availability of doctors could pose as stumbling blocks in the presentation of the budget.

NCP leader Edmund K. Sangma said these issues would put the government?s accountability to test.

Other Opposition members, mostly of the BJP, were eager to take on chief minister D.D. Lapang and his ministerial colleagues to task.

The budget session will end on April 13.