BENGALURU: The state government spent `2.89 crore on Governor Vajubhai Vala’s air travels in the last 20 months, according to information obtained through RTI.
The information was obtained by advocate and RTIactivist T Narasimha Murthy from the Chief Secretary’s office. The money was spent on the governor’s air travels, mostly within the state and to his home state Gujarat.
Vala travelled to different cities, including Mangaluru, Hubballi, Bidar, Dharwad and Mysuru by chartered aircraft and helicopter to attend official programmes, including university convocations. The chartered air services were mostly provided by GMP Air Charters.
Over `13 lakh was spent on hiring a chartered aircraft for Vala’s visit to Rajkot in Gujarat in December 2014, and over `11 lakh was paid for chartered air services for his visit to Bhavnagar in Gujarat in January 2015.
“These expenses are very high as compared to `67.82 lakh incurred on air travels in five years during Hansraj Bhardwaj’s tenure as governor,” the activist said.
Murthy claimed that Raj Bhavan had refused to provide him the information stating that a Special Leave Petition (related to Goa Raj Bhavan) was pending before the Supreme Court. “After my appeal was rejected, I had to approach the Office of the President of India, on whose directions I got the information,” he added. Raj Bhavan officials were not available for comment.