No huge spending on ministerial bungalows: LDF

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF has decided to minimise  the spending on the renovation of ministerial bungalows not only due to the  financial crunch  of the sate exchequer, but also to avoid the controversies that had erupted during the time of the previous governments.  

While the  UDF government had spent Rs 4.3 crore on renovation, the V.S. Achuthanandan-led government  that preceded it was caught up in a controversy over the lavish spending by then Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan  and the then Civil Supplies Minister and CPI leader C. Divakaran.

Chief Minister-designate  Pinarayi Vijayan has said that huge funds were often spent on ministerial bungalows leading to  corruption. Hence the LDF has decided to make only minimum maintenance works. Mr  Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and mr C. Divakaran had spent Rs 17 lakh and Rs 11 lakh respectively for renovation.

Modifications were also allegedly made at Manmohan Bangalow, the official residence of Mr Kodiyeri, in accordance with Vastu Sasthra. Following the controversies, both the ministers had even shifted from the residences. Out of the  Rs 4.3 crore spent by the Chandy government,  about Rs 73 lakh was spent on Essendene Bangalow, the official residence of Panchayat Minister M.K. Muneer,  Rs 38. 9 lakh on  Prasanth Banglow of Finance Minister K.M. Mani and  Rs 33 lakh on  Rose House, occupied by  Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali. The newly constructed

Kaveri Bungalow occupied by Excise Minister K. Babu spent Rs 3.8 lakh.  A sum of Rs 26. 5 lakh was spent on  Cliff House, the official residence of the Chief Minister, during the last five years. Education  Minister P.K. Abdu Rabb also courted a controversy over a decision to change the name of his newly-built official residence from Ganga to Grace.