1. Home
  2. Karnataka: Taxpayers' money splurged on cars for 12 new ministers

Karnataka: Taxpayers' money splurged on cars for 12 new ministers

[email protected] (DHNS)
August 3, 2016

Bengaluru, Aug 3: Twelve of the 13 ministers inducted into the state cabinet in June are set to get brand new Toyota Innova cars. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently approved his new ministerial colleagues' request for new four-wheelers. The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) has placed an order for Toyota Innova Crysta, which costs Rs 19.49 lakh each. The new ministers are said to be not comfortable using the existing cars though they are in a good condition.

innovaThe department will procure a total of 15 new vehicles for the ministers by spending nearly Rs 3 crore of taxpayers' money. The new ministers are so particular about having new cars that none of them is ready to accept Toyota Fortuner that former minister Manohar Tahsildar was using until recently.

Toyota Fortuner is a top-end Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and is more expensive than Toyota Innova. Except for the chief minister, all the ministers were provided with Innova. But the chief minister gave special permission to Tahsildar to buy a Fortuner as he complained of back pain. The car was bought just three months ago, a source in the DPAR said.

Of the 13 new ministers, Labour Minister Santosh Lad is an exception. He has not sought a new car. Lad, who owns an iron ore mining company, is said to have no qualms about moving around in the old car (Toyota Innova) used by his predecessor P T Parameshwar Naik. Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa, Health Minister K R Ramesh Kumar, Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi and Minister for Planning and Statistics M R Seetharam are among the 12 new ministers who will get the new cars.

As per the rule book, new ministers are entitled to new cars from the DPAR. Incumbent ministers can ask for replacement for old cars only if the vehicles have run for more than one lakh km or are more than three years old. Except for the cars used by three members in the 34-member council of minister, the vehicles of all other ministers are in good condition or less than three years old, the source said.

B Ramanath Rai (Forest Minister), H C Mahadevappa (PWD Minister) and Vinay Kulkarni (Mines and Geology Minister) are the three ministers who are entitled to new vehicles. Though Kulkarni became a minister in October 2015, he has been using the old vehicle left behind by his predecessor, the source said.

The chief minister recently bought a new Toyota Fortuner for himself by spending Rs 34 lakh. There was speculation in the media that Siddaramaiah bought the new car after a crow was found sitting in his old vehicle.

Comments

Irshad
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016

It is not a big issue 12 cars are lesser than PM's one day's foreign Trip.

Satyameva jayate
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016

Our PM uses a BMW..what are laaya kya..any comment....

SYED
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016

CAR BHAGYA TO MINISTERS....

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
July 11,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 11: Karantaka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Friday raised questions over claims that Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project Madhya Pradesh was "largest in Asia" and said a 2000 MW had been built in the state.

"BJP central government is claiming today that it inaugurated Asia's largest solar plant of 750 MW at Rewa, MP. What then is the 2000 MW Solar Plant in Pavagada, Karnataka which was built in just 3 years by Karnataka Congress government and has been operational since 2018?" Shivakumar said in a tweet.

The Congress leader further said that the most unique thing about the solar project set up in Karnataka was that the farmers were being paid yearly rents for the land upon which it was constructed as it had been leased and not purchased from them, helping them retain ownership.

"The unique thing about the 2000 MW Pavagada Mega Solar Park was that not a single acre of land was acquired from the farmers. All 13,000 acres have been leased from the farmers who are being given yearly rent. Karnataka model of renewable energy was accepted as the best in India," he said.

"Union power minister must answer as to how the Central Government can claim that the Rewa Solar Park (750 MW) opened today is Asia's largest when clearly the Pavagada Park in Karnataka is much larger (2000 MW) and was opened two years back!" he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project to the nation on Friday. 

Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
July 16,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 16: Streets in Mangaluru wore a deserted look as the city woke up to the first morning of the seven-day lockdown on Thursday.

The lockdown is being observed after the state government announced it as a necessary step to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The week-long total shutdown came into effect in the Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district from 8 pm on July 15 till 5 am on July 22.

The state government allowed relaxation between 8am to 11 am for purchasing of essential commodities. A slight rush was observed during the hours of the relaxation.

Karnataka has so far reported 47,253 positive COVID-19 cases, including 27,859 active cases and 18,466 recoveries.

So far, 928 people have lost their lives due to the infectious virus in the state.

Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
coastaldigest.com news network
July 5,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 5: A veteran politician and former union minister has repeatedly tested positive for COVID-19 in the Dakshina Kannada.

The former minister, who resides in Bantwal taluk, is said to be asymptomatic.

His wife and children have also tested positive for the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, one of the kin of the former minister said that he is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Mangaluru. "He is asymptomatic and doing well," he said.

Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.