Badal’s residence has 29 ACs, Governor’s 49: RTI

Splurging on luxury

• Rs 11.1 lakh was spent on buying air-conditioners for the Chief Minister's residence
• For the maintenance, an estimate of Rs 2.3 lakh is prepared every year

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 19

The state government may be advising the residents to save power, but it has installed 29 air-conditioners at the CM’s official residence in Sector 2, Chandigarh. This has been revealed by information obtained under the RTI Act.

There is not a single desert cooler installed at the CM’s residence. A sum of Rs 11.10 lakh was spent on buying the air-conditioners, but all of these were not installed in one go, says Executive Engineer, Water Supply and Sanitation-I, Mohali.

For the upkeep of these air-conditioners, an estimate of Rs 2.3 lakh is prepared every year.

Sources said the government was splurging on luxuries at a time when the state is reeling under huge debt.

Similarly, 49 air-conditioners have been installed at the official residence of the state Governor, Punjab Raj Bhavan, Sector 6, Chandigarh. These air-conditioners were purchased and installed by the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation.

The information reveals that seven desert coolers too have been installed at the Punjab Raj Bhavan. The power bills are paid by the PWD (Electrical Division). The expenditure on maintenance of ACs and desert coolers is too borne by the same department.