Belagavi: Despite caustic criticism they have invited in the past for their travel expenses, ministers in the Siddaramaiah government have spent as much as Rs 4.53 crore on travel in the last seven months alone.
These expenses include Rs 1.73 crores on special flights and helicopters.
Responding to a question by Mr K Gopalayya in the Assembly here on Tuesday, CM Siddaramaiah said 32 ministers had spent Rs 2.79 crores on travel both within and outside the state between April and October this year. Also, he and his ministers had spent Rs 1.73 crore on travel by special aircraft and helicopters, he said.
Claiming that the ministers had mostly travelled to districts reeling under drought between January and June, he said their expenses could not be considered wasteful.
Going by the information provided by the Chief Minister, Forest Minister, Ramanath Rai had spent the most, Rs 27.47 lakh on travel in the last seven months, followed by Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra ( Rs27 lakh)
Mines and Geology Minister, Vinay Kulkarni (Rs 13.82 lakh), Water Resources Minister, M.B. Patil (Rs 13.45 lakh), former Textiles Minister , Baburao Chinchansur (Rs 12.79 lakh), Minister Kimmane Ratnakar (Rs 12.62 lakh) and Urban Development Minister Vinaykumar Sorke (Rs 12.24 lakh).
The lowest (Rs 1.76 lakh)was been spent by Public Works Minister Dr H.C. Mahadevappa. Additionally, the state had spent Rs 9.34 crores on buying cars for legislators, ministers and VIPs over the last three years.
