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

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....

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 24,2020

Udupi, May 24: As many as 23 people tested positive for coronavirus in Udupi in past 24 hours, according to the latest bulletin released by the health and family welfare department.

While 18 were tested positive till noon, five more tested postive by evening.

With this the total number of covid-19 cases in the district rose to 76 including a death. Three have recovered. There 72 active cases.

Among 23 fresh cases, many had reportedly come from Maharashtra. A 44-year-old woman had returned from UAE. A 26-year-old man returned from Telangana.

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News Network
March 21,2020

New Delhi, Mar 21: Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister B. Sriramulu on Saturday informed that one more person was tested positive for the coronavirus in the state.

He said that a total of 16 persons have been tested positive for COVID-19 in the state so far.

The victim had come from Mecca and was kept in quarantine facility by the state authorities.

"For a 32-year-old man, who had just returned from a trip to Mecca has found COVID-19 positive. The infection has been confirmed. He has already been treated at an isolated ward of the hospital. Citizens must not have any sort of anxiety," tweeted Sriramulu.

Also, the news and public relations department, the Indian Red Cross Society and the Karnataka State Labour Studies Institute have invited volunteers for the programme to provide real-time information to people to avoid spreading rumours and misinformation about coronavirus.

At least four volunteers will work in four shifts per day in each taluk of the state. There are about 120 volunteers in Bengaluru city and about 3,000 Corona Warriors are expected to register from across the state. Over 400 volunteers have registered via online application on the first day.

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News Network
June 19,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 19: The Karnataka government has been advised by its Educational Advisor to cancel holidays observed in educational institutions on the occasion of various Jayantis (birth annivesaries).

Advisor to Karnataka government on Education, Professor MR Doreswamy, has recommended cancellation of holidays on Jayanti and celebrate the day with more meaningful programmes remembering the great personalities.

The state government has declared public holidays on Valmiki Jayanti, Basava Jayanti, Kanaka Jayanti, Mahavir Jayanti, Ambedkar Jayanti and Gandhi Jayanti.

On Thursday, Doreswamy submitted a report containing seven key suggestions including cancelling holidays, to Deputy Chief Minister CN Aswath Narayan, who holds higher education portfolio.

Doreswamy in his report suggested to hold thematic workshops, lectures, conferences and other such activities to celebrate the life and works of the great personalities, instead of declaring holidays.

"It would not only educate our youth about the significance of the great personalities to our culture and society and also reinvents the tradition of paying tributes to their contributions to our civil society,'' he said.

Dr Narayan said that the decision on cancelling holidays on Jayanti's has to be taken by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.

Moreover, to bring education back on track during the present COVID-19 pandemic situation, Doreswamy made a few suggestions to complete exams of final semester engineering and graduate students. He also said that it was a challenge for the education sector to overcome the pandemic crisis and structure the next academic year 2021-22.

He also advised implementation of a mentoring system in all higher education institutions in Karnataka and empowering specially-abled students.

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