RTI activist alleges extravaganza: Rs 57.99 lakh for lodging of MLAs

RTI activist Bhimappa Gadada accused State of spending Rs 57.99 lakh for boarding, lodging during Belagavi Winter session The DC however says the bills are under scrutiny and are yet to be paid 51 rooms were booked for MLAs and senior officials during the Assembly Session. He also complained that prompt responses to queries under RTI are not being provided.

RTI activist Bhimappa Gadada has alleged that the State government had undertaken an extravagant expenditure of Rs 57.99 lakhs for providing boarding and lodging to MLAs and officials during the Winter Session of the Assembly at Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum in 2016.

Speaking at a press meet in Belgaum on Tuesday, Gadada said he had obtained the information under RTI. However, he has not been provided the total expenditure of the Assembly Sessions, he said.

The MLAs and officials were provided boarding and lodging at Hotel Eefa from November 21, 2016 to December 3, 2016.  Gadada’s grouse was that the Session did not deliberate on the drought situation in the Uttara Karnataka region, even as such huge amount was spent on boarding and lodging.

The highest bill was drawn by Law Minister T B Jayachandra amounting to Rs 1,92,113. The least was by Leader of the Opposition who billed Rs 50 only.

The DC N Jayaram has explained that the bills from Hotel Eafa are under scrutiny and yet to be paid. The government had released Rs 1 crore to the PWD Department, Rs 1 crore to Police Department and Rs 3 crores to the District Administration to cover the expenses. The district administration has actually incurred an expense of Rs 5,19,40,324 and the government is yet to release Rs 2,20, 41,175.

Usually it was a practice with the district administration to release the expenses within 30 days of the Assembly Session. However, now, even after 6 months it is not provided by the Assembly Secretary, alleged Gadada.

He also complained that information with regard to a workshop conducted for journalists of north Karnataka region at Suvarna Soudha is not provided. The Cabinet Secretary is acting like a dictator he alleged and urged for inquiry against him.