Times of India: Mumbai: Tuesday, 17 May 2022.
The Maharashtra government has said in response to an RTI application that it has disbursed Rs 60 crore in the last two years for the running of Raj Bhavan and that expenditure on Raj Bhavan increased by Rs 12 crore in the last two years. Data about the funds revealed the lion’s share was released for maintenance of Raj Bhavan and the upkeep of gardens, as also for the governor’s secretariat.
The state’s general administration department provided RTI activist Anil Galgali information about funds disbursed to Raj Bhavan in the last five years; these costs were included in the budget estimates. An amount of Rs 13.9 crore was provided for in the year 2017-18, of which Raj Bhavan spent Rs 12.5 crore. The total provision in 2018-19 was Rs 15.8 crore, while Rs 13.7 crore was spent. In 2019-20, the state provided for Rs 19.9 crore, of which Rs 17.6 crore was spent. Again, in 2020-21, the state made a provision for Rs 29.7 crore but disbursed Rs 29.5 crore. In 2021-22, the government handed out Rs 31.4 crore, of which Rs 27.4 crore was spent by the governor’s office.
Raj Bhavan did not respond to TOI’s request for comment.
“The Raj Bhavan office should make public information about the increased expenditure and ensure its books of accounts are audited and all expenses uploaded on the website,” said Galgali, who has urged the present governor to do so in order to ensure transparency. Galgali stated CM Uddhav Thackeray and deputy CM Ajit Pawar should follow suit. “After all, this is public expenditure spent on the upkeep of official residences and bungalows.”
The Maharashtra government has said in response to an RTI application that it has disbursed Rs 60 crore in the last two years for the running of Raj Bhavan and that expenditure on Raj Bhavan increased by Rs 12 crore in the last two years. Data about the funds revealed the lion’s share was released for maintenance of Raj Bhavan and the upkeep of gardens, as also for the governor’s secretariat.
The state’s general administration department provided RTI activist Anil Galgali information about funds disbursed to Raj Bhavan in the last five years; these costs were included in the budget estimates. An amount of Rs 13.9 crore was provided for in the year 2017-18, of which Raj Bhavan spent Rs 12.5 crore. The total provision in 2018-19 was Rs 15.8 crore, while Rs 13.7 crore was spent. In 2019-20, the state provided for Rs 19.9 crore, of which Rs 17.6 crore was spent. Again, in 2020-21, the state made a provision for Rs 29.7 crore but disbursed Rs 29.5 crore. In 2021-22, the government handed out Rs 31.4 crore, of which Rs 27.4 crore was spent by the governor’s office.
Raj Bhavan did not respond to TOI’s request for comment.
“The Raj Bhavan office should make public information about the increased expenditure and ensure its books of accounts are audited and all expenses uploaded on the website,” said Galgali, who has urged the present governor to do so in order to ensure transparency. Galgali stated CM Uddhav Thackeray and deputy CM Ajit Pawar should follow suit. “After all, this is public expenditure spent on the upkeep of official residences and bungalows.”
.JPG)
.JPG)
