Karnataka govt approves purchase of new cars for 33 ministers for 10 crores; BJP reacts
Bengaluru: In a move that has drawn criticism, the Karnataka government has decided to purchase 33 hybrid vehicles of the Toyota Innova Hycross model for its ministers. Each of these multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) costs approximately Rs 30 lakh, resulting in an expenditure of around Rs 10 crore for the exchequer.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah approved the purchase of these hybrid vehicles, which are claimed to be the world's first fully ethanol-powered cars equipped with flex-fuel engines. The government placed the order shortly after the model's launch on August 29.
This decision has come under scrutiny from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has accused the Congress-led government of prioritizing the acquisition of high-end vehicles for ministers while the state grapples with severe drought conditions.
Notably, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had already been allotted a Toyota Fortuner about two months ago. To procure the new cars for ministers, the government has invoked the 4G exemption clause, as per an order issued on August 17.
The order states: "Toyota Kirloskar motor company, Bengaluru, will be approached directly with exemption under section 4G of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act of 1999 through the department of personnel and administrative reforms (DPAR). For good quality services under acceptable rates, DPAR is vested with the powers to procure them."
According to the KTPP Act, the 4G exemption can be sought by the government whenever there is a "natural calamity or emergency declared by the government...in respect of specific procurements, as may be notified by the government from time to time."
Government sources have indicated that the decision to purchase new vehicles is based on a norm stipulating that the vehicle should either have covered 1 lakh kilometers or completed three years on the road. "Since three years, no vehicle has been purchased for ministers. The last one was bought in 2020 during the tenure of former CM BS Yediyurappa," explained government officials.
Officials from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) noted that procuring new vehicles is a "convention" when a new government assumes power. "When we have new ministers, it is a convention that the CM authorizes the purchase of new vehicles for comfortable travel of ministers across the state," said a DPAR official.
BJP MLA CN Ashwath Narayan criticized the move, stating, "The government is facing problems related to funds and should be more responsible when it comes to such expenses. The government has completed 100 days but is still struggling to arrange funds to take up development works," he alleged.
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School headmaster dies after bike falls into roadside ditch in Karnataka's Chitradurga
Chitradurga (Karnataka) (PTI): A school headmaster died and another person was seriously injured after their bike allegedly fell into a roadside ditch in this district on Wednesday, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Premkumar (45) of Rampura village in Molakalmuru taluk.
He was serving as the headmaster at Basaveshwara Rural High School in BG Kere village, they said.
The accident occurred near Vittalapura close to Devasamudra in Molakalmuru taluk on Wednesday evening, police said.
According to police, the accident occurred when the bike allegedly fell into a roadside ditch at a curve on the road connecting Rayadurg in Andhra Pradesh to Rampura.
The injured person has been identified as Ramanjaneya of Pakkurthi village. As he sustained severe injuries, he has been admitted to VIMS Hospital in Ballari for treatment, a senior police officer said.
A case has been registered at Rampura Police Station, police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
