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Mar 13, 2010

Waste

All wastes are not equal. Some are more expensive than others.

Chennai Corporation spent more than Rs 24 lakh on the inauguration of two flyovers(at Cenotaph Road and Alandur Road) and a subway (on Jones Road, Saidapet) by chief minister M Karunanidhi on December 11, 2009. According to a reply to an RTI filed by V Madhav of Porur.

Rs 16.45 lakh was spent on the inauguration of the Cenotaph Road flyover while Rs 7.87 lakh was spent for the Alandur Road flyover and the Jones Road subway although no stage was put up and the CM inaugurated it sitting in his car.

“The total amount spent for the functions is almost equal to the ward development fund of a councillor, which is Rs 25 lakh a year. At a time when the government is short of funds for welfare schemes, there should not be any wasteful expenditure,’’ Madhav said.

So, what was 24 lakhs spent on? Rs 8.3 lakh on lighting, mikes and ACs at the Cenotaph Road flyover inauguration, Rs 2.5 lakh on the stage arrangements and toilet facility for Karunanidhi, Rs 1.15 lakh was spent for chairs for VIP, VVIPs and members of the public, the fabricated tent and synthetic mat. In addition, booklets supplied to VIPs, VVIPs and the public on the two flyovers cost Rs 4.3 lakh, while Rs 3.53 lakh was spent on lighting arrangements on the Alandur Road flyover, the Jones Road subway and the approach roads. All this expenditure does not include the money spent on the CM’s security and newspaper advertisements.