An RTI reply has landed Karnataka Governor Vaju Bhai Vala in a controversy over his spending in nine months on renovation of the Raj Bhawan, travelling and other expenditure.
The RTI reply to a private Kannada TV channel shows that the Governor made the State exchequer to spend Rs 2.4 crores on renovating the Raj Bhawan and chartering private aircraft for his official visits. The State Public Works department gave this information under RTI to Public TV, a premier Kannada Channel and said the finance department gave a special sanction of Rs3 crore through an order dated January 5, 2015. About Rs2.4 crore of this amount was spent.
According to reply, the expenditure on chartered flights/helicopters from September 1, 2014 to May 13, 2015 was Rs10 lakh. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah refused to be drawn into this controversy.
Previous Governor HR Bhardwaj had spent Rs72 lakhs from 2009 to 2012 on civil works at Raj Bhawan. This was also revealed by an RTI filed by Bheemappa Gadad.
The Raj Bhawan, has a sprawling spread of over 17 acres and houses the Governor’s residence, an administration block, a glasshouse and 61 staff quarters with a staff strength of 300. According to RTI reply, Rs40 lakh were spent on providing interiors in the Governor and his ADC’s chambers (wooden false ceiling, wooden wall paneling, glass doors, etc) and Rs30 lakh for interior works in the offices of OSD, private secretary and main lounge. The reply further said the expenditure on chartered flights/helicopters from September 1, 2014 to May 13, 2015 was around Rs10 lakh.
About Rs25 lakh were spent on alterations at telephone exchange, computer section, dispensary and university section in Raj Bhawan and another Rs35 lakh for asphalting internal roads and providing kerbs at the front. The reply also shows Rs50 lakh were spent on renovation of kitchen, dining hall and bathroom of the Governor along with another Rs50 lakh for widening of pathway near main building, alterations to laundry and dispensary.