B’lore: Ministers to get Cars @ Rs 5 crore; at Cost of Public Money
Bellevision Media Network
Bangalore, 24 July 2013 : In spite of state exchequer facing crunch of funds, our ministers prefer luxurious automobiles. The state government is buying luxury cars @ Rs 14 lac per car and for each minister, which would cost a total of Rs 5 crore.
Toyota Fortuner 4WD has been bought at a cost of Rs 22 lac for CM Siddaramaiah.
One wonders, whether there is a need to buy such new cars, because it’s during a brief term of the former CM Jagdish Shettar, new cars were bought and they are in good condition since they are sparingly used. In spite of this, the new regime has bought cars at a cost of Rs 5 crore. CM Siddaramaiah who was supposed to curtail the excess expenditures has consented to buy them.
The earlier regime of BJP had bought 8 Toyota Innova, 9 Toyota Corolla Altis, Renault Fluence and Chevrolet Forester automobiles. These vehicles are sparingly used. Its number plates, VIP plates and overhead lamps were placed in the car seats. It’s because of this, the new ministers refused to use such cars.
As per staff and administrative reform department, the new cars are bought each time, whenever the regime changes. All the ministers requisitioned for same brand of cars. CM Siddaramaiah requisitioned for Toyota Fortuner, said M V Kulkarni, additional secretary at staff and administrative reform department.
The rule is in place that the ministers can requisition for a new car, if the car is 3 years old or completed over 1 lac kilometers. BJP regime has bought cars priced at Rs 12 lacs to Rs 14 lacs, while the Congress regime bought the cars at Rs 16 lac each.
It’s during five-year term of BJP regime, 3 CMs reigned in Karnataka. Among them, B S Yeddyurappa and D V Sadanand Gowda were using Honda CRV. Jagdish Shettar has not bought a new car.
When queried what will be done with old cars, it’s learned that these cars are dispatched to other districts to use them there. These nearly-new cars that are used for a few months are now parked at Kumara Kripa guesthouse, here. Whatever may be the state policy, it’s a fact that the taxes collected from people are being wasted on unnecessary luxuries!