BHUBANESWAR: Only three Ministers have visited foreign countries on official business since May 21, 2014, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Arukha informed the Assembly on Tuesday.
In a written reply to a question from Tara Prasad Bahinipati (Congress), Arukha said Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Panda visited London and New York while Housing and Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singhdeo visited Italy. Panchayati Raj Minister Arun Sahu visited Germany and France during the period.
While the expenditure for Panda’s visits was Rs 2,45,365, Sahu’s visits cost the exchequer Rs 3,30,605. Expenditure of Singhdeo was only Rs 19,188.
Arukha said Ministers spent Rs 85,33,683 on travels within the country during the period. The highest amount of Rs 10,00,873 was spent by Transport Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi for his trips. The lowest Rs 1,35,622 was spent by Excise Minister Damodar Rout