AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government allocated Rs 20,405 to construct frames for each of the 136 Rs 20 coins, amounting to Rs 27.28 lakhs to commemorate 20 years of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
During a session in the Gujarat Assembly, Congress MLA Tushar Chowdhury queried about the release and cost of the commemorative Rs 20 coins.
In response, Gujarat Industries Minister Balwantsinh Rajput revealed that each coin frame cost Rs 20,405, resulting in a total expenditure of Rs 27,75,125.
Congress MLA Tushar Chaudhary questioned the government whether a proposal was made to the Reserve Bank of India to produce these coins. In response, the government stated that the coin proposal was not forwarded to the Reserve Bank of India, but rather to the Division of Currency and Coinage, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
In response to another question from Congress Porbandar MLA Arjun Modhwadia about the Vibrant Summit, the government admitted that as of January end, none of the 35 summit partner countries including the UAE, Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom had signed any Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with the state government.
In response to another query regarding the expenses incurred on the Vibrant Summit, the government declined to disclose exact figures, citing pending finalisation of invoices. Thus, the true expenditure remains a mystery.
‘Proposal not forwarded to RBI’
Congress MLA Tushar Chaudhary questioned the government whether a proposal was made to the Reserve Bank of India to produce these coins. In response, the government stated that the coin proposal was not forwarded to the RBI, but to the Division of Currency and Coinage, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.