Karnataka Governor's splurge

Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R Vala has landed in a controversy after an RTI query has revealed that the State government spent Rs 2.4 crore on renovating the official residence - Raj Bhavan and Rs 10 lakh on chartered flights for his official visits. The Public Works Department (PWD) furnished this information in reply to an RTI query. In its reply - a copy of which is available with TIMES NOW - the department said the renovation work was undertaken after the Finance Department specially sanctioned Rs 4 crore through an order dated January 5, 2015. About Rs 2.3 crore of this amount was spent. The reply further said the expenditure on chartered flights and helicopters from September 1, 2014 to May 13, 2015 were around Rs 10 lakh. An RTI query filed by activist Bheemappa Gadad had earlier revealed that during the former Governor's tenure Rs 72 lakh was spent on civil works in the Raj Bhavan between 2009 and 2012.