The state government, said Housing Department sources, has even agreed to drop the provision from the ordinance and is pleading with the Centre to pass the ordinance minus the pugree clause. Meanwhile, preparations are afoot to introduce a bill in the Budget session to extend the present Interim Rent Act, as it is, by a year. The current Rent Act expires on March 31, 1999 and State Housing Secretary Govind Swaroop said in case the ordinance was not promulgated, the state government would extend the existing Act by another year.