To ward off bumpy rides in an election year, Omar Abdullah-led alliance Government had spent over Rs22 crores on the purchase of new vehicles between 2013-14 and 2014-2015.
The Home department spent maximum amount of Rs6.60 crores on purchase of new vehicles while law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs department purchased new vehicles worth Rs two crores for newly appointed judges.
The State Transport Department also went on the splurge for new vehicles for newly created districts and RTO offices worth Rs5.85 crores during the same period. The State Finance Minister in a written reply informed the State Assembly on Tuesday, “the vehicles were purchased mainly due to security related reasons or in lieu of old and condemned vehicles due to floods in the valley.”
Out of 34 departments at least 11 of them did not spend single rupee on the purchase of new vehicles in the last two years, the state finance minister said in the reply. The State Finance Department also spent an amount of Rs92 lakhs on the purchase of new vehicles for its officials.