Finding that his room at the opulent, new Karnataka Bhavan-Cauvery Annexe, built at an estimated cost of Rs 37 crore in the Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave here, did not quite measure up to the chief minister’s, Bhardwaj has refused to approve of it. He wants as much a deluxe room as Yeddyurappa enjoys during his visits to the national capital.
The chief minister’s bulletproof, soundproof and tamperproof suite, with all its plush sofas, bed, furniture and expensive fittings, is quite a sight to behold. Overzealous state government officials bent over backwards to design a room on the fourth floor of the Annexe which would please the chief minister who inaugurated it on Thursday. The suite is two-roomed — a bedroom and a living room where he could hold meetings and entertain guests and an ante room that could double up as a dining hall.
Besides, there are two kitchens, one to exclusively prepare food for him and the other that will cook for his guests. This apart, Yeddyurappa’s suite has a swing, decorative artefacts and two home theatres.
Located on fourth floor, the Governor’s room pales into insignificance when compared to Yeddyurappa’s glitzy suite.
Indeed, the Governor’s office is believed to have noticed “glaring” differences between the two accomodations as far as facilities are concerned. Bhardwaj’s suite is comparatively small and poorly lit. It has one kitchen, an ante room and a small living room. An engineer with the state Public Works Department, which oversaw the construction, admitted that since the Governor’s suite was located close to the emergency staircase, it obstructed the entry of sun light.
Expressing unhappiness at the short-shrift given to him, Bhardwaj is said to have refused to occupy the suite. According to the sources, efforts to mollify the Governor failed before it was decided that the chief minister’s suite in the old building would be renovated for Bhardwaj.
The lavish new Karnataka Bhavan, built to accommodate VIPs visiting Delhi from Bangalore, boasts of high security surveillance systems, ultra-modern kitchens, luxurious interiors, fire-fighting systems, glass-encased elevators, two dinning halls (one exclusively for VIPs), 24 guest rooms, 10 VIP rooms besides, of course, the two suites exclusively for the chief minister and the Governor. It also has two meeting halls and a basement park.
The total cost of construction has reached a staggering Rs 36.25 crore as against an estimated Rs 13 crore when construction began in August 2007.
