Chandigarh: Days after he stopped the use of tomatoes in the Raj Bhavan’s kitchen, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit Tuesday prohibited the officers of the Chandigarh administration from travelling by air to Delhi and staying in five-star hotels for official work.
As the ex-officio administrator of Chandigarh city, Purohit’s orders are binding on the bureaucrats and officials working with the Union Territory administration.
In a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan, Purohit wrote to his advisor saying, “As responsible officers, it is our moral duty that public money shouldn’t be squandered and wasteful expenditure shouldn’t be accepted at any cost.”
“In this regard, a news item relating to the expenses incurred by the officers of Chandigarh Administration was brought to my notice. In the news item, it was reported that officers stayed in five-star hotels in Delhi and travelled by business class in commercial flights.”.
“After careful consideration of the present circumstances, from henceforth, it is directed that no air travel is allowed to Delhi. All the officials travelling to Delhi would travel by Shatabdi and Vande Bharat trains. Further, officials will stay at UT Guest House, Punjab Bhavan, or Haryana Bhavan but not in any star hotels,” Purohit wrote.
While Chandigarh to Delhi is a three-hour journey by train, it takes 45 minutes of air travel to cover the distance.
Last week, the Punjab governor had temporarily halted the use of tomatoes in his household as “a gesture of solidarity with the citizens facing the impact of rising food prices”.
“Over the past few weeks, the people of State and UT have been grappling with an unprecedented escalation in the cost of tomatoes, a staple in many households across the state,” an official release had said.
At the special session of the Punjab assembly in June, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who has been at loggerheads with Purohit, lashed out at the lifestyle of governors while referring to their royal and elitist manner in conducting official duties.
Reacting to the uncharitable remarks, the Governor had pointed out that he rarely used the Punjab government chopper to travel across Punjab, limiting himself to the use of his official vehicle.
“My lifestyle is very simple. I have used the helicopter not more than 3-4 times and that too when I had to travel to the border. The chief secretary and the DGP also travelled with me. If that is to be used against me as if it is a bribe which was offered by the CM so that I don’t question him about the working of his government, then let me declare that from now onwards I will not use the helicopter of the Punjab government,” Purohit said at a press conference.
Mann himself is often accused of misusing the aeroplane hired by the Punjab government to fly Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to various parts of the country. In June, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attacked AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, saying he keeps Mann by his side for travels so that he could avail the Punjab state aircraft.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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