Parrikar's swearing in cost Rs 11 lakh
PTI, PANAJI | 20 May 2012 21:29 IST
The much publicised swearing-in ceremony of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on March 9 cost the state exchequer a whopping Rs 11 lakh for a one-hour function, an RTI query has revealed.
"The pandal, stage, sound system and seating arrangement for the swearing-in ceremony cost the tax payer Rs 7.98 lakh, which includes Rs 63,415 spent on flower decoration for the stage and Rs 72,270 for hiring of 5,500 chairs.
"Separate amount was spent on the transport and payment to catering service," the information, received under Right to Information by lawyer Aires Rodrigues, has revealed.
Government had to foot a bill of Rs 2.32 lakh to a city-based popular hotel, which had provided water and refreshment for the guests, who were expected to be over 12,000.
The response to query under RTI by state government does not satisfy the question whether the permission was sought from Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) at Campal to use the ground, Rodrigues said.
General Administration Department (GAD) has submitted to Rodrigues that half litre water bottles, one 'peda' (Indian sweet) and snacks were ordered for the function.
The RTI reply further reveals an amount of Rs 66,000 spent on 222 kgs of sweets, which were purchased at Rs 300 a kilo, while Rs 93,120 was spent on the water bottles.
An expenditure of Rs 48,000 was incurred on 6,000 'batata vadas' (a potato snack) while another Rs 48,000 was spent on 6,000 vegetable patties.
Doing away with the convention of swearing-in of ministers at the Raj Bhavan, Parrikar had decided to hold the first swearing-in amidst the Goans.
Raj Bhavan had refused to pay for the expenses at SAG ground as the ceremony was not held within their premises.
Around 5,000 people including senior BJP leaders from Delhi like L K Advani had attended the ceremony at Campal.
11 Lakh for ceremony is not huge. How much would it cost if it was held at Raj Bhawan. I am sure it would not be less then that. However consider the inconvenience it would have had to thousands of people in the congested lawns of Raj Bhawan.
Try and arrange a private party with sound system and pandal for 200 pax and see the cost and then compare it here.
I think it is fine. Now when congress looted for more than 1000Cr then its fine and spending 11Lac is a big thing. people are making unnecessary criticism to Parrikar.
Huge amount. Not expected from Parrikar. Expenses need to be controlled and reduced as far as possible.
so it means it was all a stage managed drama of parrikar at peoples expence as usual. Politicians, they never change whether they carry orrange, blue, red, or multicolor flags they all are black. Now again as usual parrikars chamchas will start attacking aires and telling all how parrikar was right
It's not really an hour long function, Infact, it was less than half hour or just 23 minutes to be precisely including new CM's address.
timelime:
Swearing in ceremony was to start at 1700hrs
It started at ..
1704 with National Anthem
1705 Chief Secretary read out the Order of the Governor
1707 Parrikar taking Oath of Secrecy (duration about 75secs)
1+ 5 minister i.e 6x75secs = 7.5Mins
+ reading orders, compering by CS
1721 National Anthem
Governor‘s exit etc
1723 CM’s Address (duration 4.12 mins)
1727 ended.
we were there since 4.40pm till 5.40 pm and we did not get any peddas or Batatwadas etc nor we have seen anyone eating.
It's good to know the actual cost of the Ceremony though!
I guess the cost of transporting people (bus loads) etc not included in the 11 lacs
whether it is 11 lac or 1000 cr. its all public money. So just think how we can save them instead of telling Cong is good or BJP is best. All leaders are same. Its time to control them by RTI and Lokyukt.