Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala. (File photograph)
In the nine months that he has been Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R Vala has spent a hefty Rs. 3.5 crore of public money on home and travel, shows a reply to a Right to Information or RTI application.
More than Rs. 2.4 crore was spent on upgrading the Raj Bhavan, the Governor's official residence in the heart of Bengaluru. The rest has been spent on chartered flights, according to the reply received by Kannada news channel Public TV to its RTI inquiry.
The information has been supplied by the state's public works department.
Mr Vala was appointed by the BJP-led union government last September. The 77-year-old has earlier been a minister in the Gujarat government.
TB Jayachandra of the Congress, the state's law minister, would only say, "It's the Governor's office spending the money. I had seen it in newspapers also that there is lavish spending. It has been discussed too," but added, "Governor is the constitutional head of the state. I don't want to comment and in fact I don't have any information how much has been spent earlier."
Senior BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa said an "issue is being made of the matter unnecessarily". The Governor, Mr Yeddyurappa said, "has every right to get all facilities".
The bill says that Rs 40 lakh was spent on providing interiors in the Governor and his ADC's chambers. This included wooden false ceiling, wooden wall paneling, glass doors among several others. Additional sum of Rs 30 lakh was spent on the interior works in the offices of Officer on Special Duty (OSD), private secretary and main lounge.
Rs 35 lakh was also spent on asphalting internal roads and providing kerbs at the front. Another Rs 50 lakh were also spent on widening of pathway near the main building, alterations to laundry and dispensary.
The amount for renovating the kitchen, dining hall and bathroom of the Governor's was billed at Rs 50 lakh.