Kolkata, Nov 20 (IANS): West Bengal government employees will get six percent additional dearness allowance (DA) from January, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced in the assembly Wednesday.

Banerjee made the announcement while making a statement on the rising prices of essentials.

Later, Finance Minister Amit Mitra told reporters the state would incur an additional annual expense of Rs.1,800 crore on account of the increased DA.

An employee's DA will now be 58 percent of the basic pay, Mitra said.

Opposition Left Front lawmakers protested during Banerjee's statement, alleging she violated the rules of the House in making the announcement.

Leader of the opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said the chief minister's statement was to be on price rise but she ended up announcing the increase in DA.

Countering Mishra, Banerjee said the opposition could not dictate to her and she was only speaking on issues which were related.

Speaker Biman Banerjee ruled the chief minister had the right to make a statement in the House on any vital matter.

Later, as Banerjee attacked the United Progressive Alliance government for the escalating prices, the Congress members walked out after the speaker turned down their demand that they be allowed to present their viewpoint on the issue.