CHENNAI: For the first time in the history of Raj Bhavan, the expenditure towards housekeeping, travel of the Governor, kitchen maintenance, electricity etc., has been drastically cut as part of austerity measures initiated by Governor Banwarilal Purohit since he took office on October 6 last year.
To begin with the Governor and his family members pay for their meals at the Raj Bhavan. For breakfast they are charged Rs 50 per head and for lunch and dinner Rs 80 per head. If relatives visit him, the Governor pays for their food.
A top Raj Bhavan official said the expenditure for 2015-16 stood at Rs 1.33 crore and it rose to Rs 1.43 crore during 2016-17. It further rose to Rs 1.68 crore between April to September 2017. However, due to the stringent austerity measures initiated by the Governor, the total expenditure between October 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018 had come down drastically to `30.31 lakh.
After Purohit assumed office, the kitchen became fully vegetarian and nothing is free of cost, with a rate fixed for every food item. It has become the rule that whoever takes food from the Raj Bhavan kitchen has to pay, with a monthly bill being sent to them. Only official guests visiting the Raj Bhavan are exempted from this.
The official further said that the next major expenditure was on travel of the Governor. Purohit is on tour for 20 to 25 days a month. But he mostly travels by train or flight. On flights, he travels economy class. While in the past, Governors would to travel in saloon (luxury coaches) on trains, Purohit travels by first class A/C coach. The Governor has also never hired an IAF helicopter or a State government-owned helicopter paid for by Raj Bhavan as past Governors had done. This has led to a drop in travel expenditure.
Besides, all old bulbs at the Raj Bhavan have now been replaced with LED bulbs to reduce power consumption. Air-conditioning at “unnecessary places” have been removed. Further, a four-kilowatt solar power unit produces power. This has been connected to the feeder of the TNEB. These steps have resulted in a fall in expenditure on power.
The Governor has also stopped the procurement of bottled water. An RO plant has been installed instead. Bottled water is only procured for large gatherings. The Governor has also decided that hereafter mostly khadi material should be used wherever necessary. All Raj Bhavan purchases are being made from Amudham cooperative stores. The practice of giving bouquets and flowers have been done away with. Only single roses are given to guests and the requirements for flowers and vegetables are being met from Raj Bhavan gardens and Udhagamandalam, the official said.
Expenses come down
Due to the stringent austerity measures initiated by the Governor, the total expenditure between October 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018 had come down drastically to `30.31 lakh