Bhubaneswar, March 29: The salary and perquisites of MLAs in the state will be enhanced from Rs 58,000 to Rs 1 lakh, highly placed sources indicated.

Official sources said a bill to this effect was being worked out, and if possible, it would be brought during the current session of the Assembly scheduled to conclude on April 6. Along with the salary and perquisites, the monthly pension amount for former legislators will also be revised.

The sources said the state government, too, was considerate towards the demand of the MLAs, cutting across party affiliations for upward revision of their emoluments.

At present, an MLA in the state gets around Rs 58,000 per month towards salary and other perquisites - daily allowance, constituency, secretariat, conveyance, fixed travel and medical allowances. Besides, the amount also takes care of their electricity consumption, telephone bills and health insurance.

The state government had revised the emoluments last time in 2009.

The sub-panel of the amenities committee that looks after the salary and other allowances today met in the evening and recommended for enhancement salary and allowances, sources said.

The issue has been raised in the House couple of times during the session. Even, an all-party delegation of the MLAs met chief minister Naveen Patnaik yesterday and submitted a memorandum. "His response was positive," said an MLA, who was part of the delegation.

The MLAs are of the view that the cost of living because of inflation and, especially the frequent rise in fuel price, has made them seek revision of their salaries.

Some of them had also cited the plight of former MLAs, who are finding it difficult to meet their ends. Last week, a former MLA was almost detained by a private hospital in the city as he was not able to clear the hospital bills.

Only after the intervention of a minister, the former MLA was allowed to leave the hospital. He had to give an undertaking that he would clear the bills within a stipulated timeframe.

BJD's Amar Prasad Satpathy, who heads the amenities committee, pointed out in the House that the salaries of judges had been raised by 200 per cent in the recent past.

The central government has already implemented the Seventh Pay Commission's recommendations for employees, and the state government, too, is in the process of revising salary structure of its staff members.

The Assembly proceedings were adjourned twice yesterday as the MLAs insisted on their demand.