PANJIM: Notwithstanding the financial crunch it has been facing, the BJP-led government spent nearly Rs 21 lakh since 2012 only on travel and accommodation expenses of State guests. The list, as per government records, includes Union ministers, bureaucrats, Bollywood celebrities and foreigners.
As per details available with Herald, the expenditure largely covers accommodation at starred resorts, while private transport facility arranged for 20 of the guests cost the exchequer around Rs 4 lakh.
The highest transport bill of Rs 3.53 lakh approximately was recorded in one day for 18 BJP ‘State guests’ that included Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Gujarat CM Anandiben Mafatbhai and others. Interestingly, their stay at a city resort also topped the expenses chart at Rs 6.36 lakh.
Some prominent celebrities, such as one of the highest paid B-town actors Akshay Kumar, who was the Chief Guest at IFFI 2012, South Superstar Rajnikant, who was conferred a special centenary award for Indian film personality of the year 2014, actor Nana Patekar and former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Dr Anil Kakodkar were amongst the few to make their own arrangements whether it was traveling or stay. Some Justices from different states also did not burden the State during their stay period here.
Similarly, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh has a consistent record of making his own travel and stay arrangements.
What’s interesting is that only 11 of the visitors, including renowned special public prosecutor of Maharashtra Ujwal Nikam, Upa Lokayukta, Andhra Pradesh MVS Krishaji Rao and member of Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal Justice P S Narayana preferred to stay in the Circuit house at Altinho for which the State spends nominally.
The total amount of Rs 20.89 lakh is the official figure with the invitees on an official visit for various conferences, conclaves, entertainment events and a number of other government-sponsored functions. However, Goa sees a large number of politicians and high-ranking bureaucrats on private visits during the peak tourist season. Secretariat sources confirm that a majority of those on a private visit demand a pick-up from and drop to the airport, sightseeing, food and stay at reputed resorts and other requirements to be taken care of by the government. “They prefer official vehicles to tour the State and are accompanied by their family,” a senior official told Herald.
Records further show that the government is awaiting bills from two resorts where six of its guests stayed on different dates in February 2016.
This expenditure has come at a time when Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has been claiming that the government is taking loans within limits while also repaying huge loans taken by the Congress-led government during its previous tenure.
