Reluctance of officials may force Karnataka govt to hold full monsoon session in capital

Bengaluru: Is the state government reconsidering its decision to split the monsoon session of the state legislature between Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi and Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru?

Sources in the Assembly secretariate and Law and Parliamentary Affairs ministry told this newspaper that the climatic conditions at Belagavi would not help the state government conduct the monsoon session for ten days.   

The Legislative Council and Assembly secretariat had suggested that the  government hold the session both at  Belagavi and Bengaluru which is not feasible as it would create hurdles for Legislature officials  making arrangements for  the session.

Interestingly conducting the session at Belagavi and Bengaluru was a political decision taken by the state government. Before taking such a decision, the Law and Parliamentary Affairs ministry was not consulted, sources said.

A top level officer in the Council secretariat told this newspaper that the “government would reconsider its decision to hold a split monsoon session. Conducting the session at Suvarna Soudha needs a lot of time and manpower. The officers will have to leave for Belagavi ten days in advance to make preparation for the session and again they need time to conduct the second leg of the session at Bengaluru. Splitting the session is technically difficult”, he said.

Council officers had also contacted their counterparts in Maharashtra for advice on conducting the monsoon session outside Bengaluru. However, Maharashtra Legislative Council officials said Maharashtra does not conduct the monsoon session at Nagpur, it is the winter sesison which is held in the second capital.

Due to the rainy season, it is impossible to conduct the session outside the headquarters or state capital, Maharashtra officials informed their counterparts in Karnataka. Belagavi receives heavy rainfall during July and August. It would difficult for legislators, officers and other staff to attend the session in this situation. Moreover, the change of climate in Belagavi triggers health related problems in most legislators.

The intervening period between the split sessions if they are held would be only   two days. Legislators may not agree to such a  short break during the  split session, an officer added.

The state government is yet to take a final decision on conducting the split session. The farmers’ issue and the inter-state border dispute may also force the Congress government to reconsider its decision to conduct a split session,

They splurged & splurged in belagavi last time

Despite receiving allowances from the government for their accommodation and food during the 10-day winter session of the state legislature held in Belagavi last December, it has come to light that some cabinet ministers spent a whopping Rs 48 lakh in excess on their food and stay in merely 10 days! The additional bills have been settled by the Belagavi  administration.

The highest of Rs 52,638 was spent only on food by Minister Baburao Chinchansur during 10 days followed by Rs 41625 by Minister T.B. Jayachandra and Rs 31,888 by Ramanath Rai. The lowest of Rs 908 was  spent on food by Minister Dinesh Gundurao.

Information obtained via RTI revealed how the ministers squandered additional money on their stay and food. For ministers and other VIPs, 53 rooms were booked in posh Eefa Hotel in the city. According to RTI activist Bheemappa Gadad, the ministers needlessly spent huge  money on food and stay despite getting all allowances drawn from the government.

“I am wondering on seeing the bills whether the ministers and legislators come to Belagavi during the session only to empty the government coffers or resolve the problems faced by people.,'' says Mr Gadad. Why did the authorities concerned spend so much money without a check is a million dollar question, he added.

The RTI information revealed that the expenses of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda and deputy Lokayukta Subhash Adi who stayed in Belagavi during the session  have also been added to the  session expenses. The amount spent by Mr Adi on food and stay has  been included. For  food and stay, the highest of Rs 1.98 lakh was  spent by Cooperative Minister Mahadev Prasad.