PANJIM: On paper the BJP-MGP government is implementing austerity measures to curb unnecessary expenditure as per the advice of the Narendra Modi government but in reality documents prove otherwise.
Information available with Herald reveals that former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, PWD Minister Ramkrishan (Sudin) Dhavalikar and Industries Minister Mahadev Naik have been the highest spenders on air travel during the last four years at the exchequer’s expense.
Not only are this, Parrikar, Parsekar and Milind Naik, also the top spenders when it comes to hosting parties at government expense.
Parrikar, who was chief minister till November 8, 2014, spent Rs 14,58,092 on his pan-India travel. Industries Minister Mahadev Naik is second on the list with expenses of Rs 12,69,649 which includes two foreign trips to Dubai, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Dubai in 2013 and Dubai, London, Birmingham in 2012. Sudin is third on the list with bills amounting to Rs 11,23,801 across India.
Tourism Minister, who is known to be a frequent flier for tourism festivals (but on Tourism department expense) has a bill from General Administration Department (GAD) of Rs 9,32,884, which includes two foreign trips to London and Berlin in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
The Power Minister does not lag far behind. His air travels amount to Rs 8,98,059, which includes a trip to London in 2012.
Parsekar, who took over from Parrikar in November 2014, has a bill of Rs 8,86,990, while Dy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza has incurred expenses totaling Rs 7,21,949 in travels across India.
Lavish parties
Parrikar also leads the charts for hosting parties to State guests as well as others, his bills amounting to Rs 25,82,784. This includes a party for the BJP National Executive delegates in 2013 at Goa Marriott Resort, which incurred a bill of around Rs 6 lakh. Parrikar hosted 20 such parties favouring five stars resorts like Marriott, Vivanta by Taj and International Centre Goa.
His successor Laxmikant Parsekar is not far behind as he has thrown parties the bill for which is Rs 15,96,697. Milind Naik is again on this list with expenses of Rs 10,58,706 for 10 parties, most of them at La Paz Garden, Vasco.
D’Souza and WRD Minister Dayanand Mandrekar incurred party bills of Rs 8,34,127 and Rs 7,31,760 respectively.
Burning fuel
D’Souza ranks first in fuel and other expenses for official cars with an expenditure incurred of Rs 12,99,699. Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar (Rs 7,97,694), Rural Development Minister Alina Saldanha (Rs 7,62,865), Pandurang (Dipak) Dhavalikar (Rs 7,48,297), Mahadev Naik (Rs 6,93,347) and Sudin Dhavalikar (Rs 509362) were also among the top spenders in this category.
Incomplete figures?
The total expenses, at the exchequers cost, on the above heads amounts to Rs 2,32,53,960. However, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte, who tabled this question in the Assembly stated that the real expenditure is much more.
“The reply given in the Assembly is incomplete, they have not included foreign trips of many ministers and their staff, which will take the expenses further,” Khaunte told Herald. “I think it is the duty of the Speaker to get the facts right,” Khaunte said.
