Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (EP)
Bengaluru, Jul 29: Information obtained through RTI has has disclosed that 29 ministers of Karnataka have manipulated figures and made claims amounting to staggering Rs 13,79,98,244 towards travelling expenses,salary, guest allowance, house rent allowance, etc during the last two years.
Out of the above, Rs 6,26,97,721 was claimed towards salaries, house rent and guest allowance. The 29 ministers made claim totalling Rs 7,53,00,523 for travelling expenses alone. Even though rental cars are available at around Rs 15 per km, they have presented bloated bills ranging between Rs 20 to 30 per km, and drawn such exaggerated bills, the information says. This information was applied for and obtained by RTI activist, Bhemmappa Gadad.
Gadad says that none of the ministers are visiting the districts allotted to them regularly, nor are they discharging duties entrusted to them in a proper manner. He accordingly has charged these ministers of claiming unduly high allowances without working properly.
As per information, minister, Vinay Kumar Sorake, is paid Rs 56,62,111, health minister, U T Khader Rs 54,42,657, forest minister Ramanath Rai Rs 51,44,218 and Baburao Chinchanoor Rs 44,63,127, with revenue minister Srinivasa Prasad claiming the least amount of Rs 2,29,286 towards travel and other allowances in these two years.
It is alleged that the ministers have drawn allowances by showing travel expenses at exorbitant rates beyond permissible rate, and drawing allowances thereof exceeding the prescribed limits, thus draining away public funds to the tune of crores of rupees.