Rs 9,46,000 and 18,700 litres of fuel. Yes, this is what the State has saved (till November 6) on official transportation of ministers after the fall of the Kumaraswamy-led coalition government.
With the governor yet to invite any party to form a government, the fuel provided for the use of daily official duties of the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues has been withdrawn. The 34 ministers, including the chief minister, who had been allocated vehicles had surrendered their vehicles after they tendered their resignations, leading to savings to the DPAR.
“All the official vehicles were surrendered. They have been lying idle. Once a government is installed, we will provide the cars again to the ministers,” said sources in the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reform (DPAR).
Every minister is entitled to a vehicle of his choice, added the sources. “Earlier, Ambassador and Contessa cars were in vogue... later, the preference for the latest models led to a demand for sanction of funds for purchase of Mitsubishi Lancers. The erstwhile government had been given Toyota Corollas for the use of the ministers,” said sources.
Officials added that a minister should adhere to a ceiling of Rs nine lakh, fixed by the Department when requesting for a car. However, many ministers had got sanctioned even a Skoda Octavia, costing more than Rs nine lakh from the funds of the boards and corporation coming under the jurisdiction of his ministry.
Savings have not only been in fuel costs resulting from vehicles remaining idle, but also to the Police Department that has seen a drop in fuel consumption and costs by about 20 to 30 percent during the last four weeks. “With no pilot or escort vehicle provided to a large number of VIPs, any saving is welcome,” said a source in the City Armed Reserve (CAR), Headquarters, Transport wing.
TRANSPORT
*A car for every minister
*Each minister gets 500 litres of petrol every month for use in City
*Fuel allowance (Rs 10/km for visit to constituency, Rs 12/km for outstation visit)Bangalore:
