Cost of Parrikar's swearing-in ceremony: Rs 11 lakh

Panaji: The much publicised swearing-in ceremony of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on March cost the state exchequer a whopping Rs 11 lakh for a one-hour function, an RTI query has revealed. “The pandal, stage, sound system and seating arrangement for the swearing-in ceremony cost the tax payer Rs 7.98 lakh, which includes Rs 63,415 spent on flower decoration for the stage and Rs 72,270 for hiring of 5,500 chairs. “Separate amount was spent on the transport and payment to catering service,” the information, received under Right to Information by lawyer Aires Rodrigues, has revealed. Government had to foot a bill of Rs 2.32 lakh to a city-based popular hotel, which had provided water and refreshment for the guests, who were expected to be over 12,000. The response to query under RTI by state government does not satisfy the question whether the permission was sought from Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) at Campal to use the ground, Rodrigues said. [caption id=“attachment_315279” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. PTI”]  [/caption] General Administration Department (GAD) has submitted to Rodrigues that half litre water bottles, one peda and snacks were ordered for the function. The RTI reply further reveals an amount of Rs 66,000 spent on 222 kgs of sweets, which were purchased at Rs 300 a kilo, while Rs 93,120 was spent on the water bottles. An expenditure of Rs 48,000 was incurred on 6,000 batata vadas while another Rs 48,000 was spent on 6,000 vegetable patties. Doing away with the convention of swearing-in of ministers at the Raj Bhavan, Parrikar had decided to hold the first swearing-in amidst the Goans. Raj Bhavan had refused to pay for the expenses at SAG ground as the ceremony was not held within their premises. Around 5,000 people including senior BJP leaders from Delhi like L K Advani had attended the ceremony at Campal. PTI