Thiruvananthapuram: At a time when the state is going through a financial crisis, the Kerala government is planning to buy eight new cars.
The decision is contrary to the Finance Minister Thomas Issac’s announcement that the government will take vehicles on contracts. It is learned that one of the cars will be for Kerala House in New Delhi.
During budget the presentation, Issac had said that the government would not buy new vehicles to avoid excess expenditure and would take cars on contract. However, following the budget presentation, funds were allotted to buy eight new cars.
While addressing the media after the budget presentation, Thomas Issac had said that new cars will be provided only for regulatory authorities and that the others will get vehicles on contract.
The new vehicles are being brought for the Tax Commission, Ombudsman, Alappuzha Industrial Tribunal, Kerala House in New Delhi, PWD Executive Engineer (Roads) in Kottayam, Science and Technology Department Vice President and Director for Municipality Affairs.
The government will have to explain how those except the first three (Tax Commission, Ombudsman and Alappuzha Industrial Tribunal) come under regulatory authority.
The other allegation is that the vehicle for Kerala House is meant for the government’s special representative A. Sampath.
Meanwhile, the government has not clarified what type of vehicles are going to be brought. A token amount has been credited. The finance department will grant additional funds depending on the price of vehicles.
