Karnataka CM Yeddyurappa spends Rs 1.7 cr to redo home

BANGALORE: Last week, in New Delhi, a weepy Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa lamented how his political rivals, the ������Bellary Reddys������, were preventing him from tending to hapless flood victims. But a new revelation shows that the chief minister���s priority is not just selfless service of his state.

An RTI reply has revealed that Yeddyurappa has been equally committed to improving his own living quarters. He spent a staggering Rs 1.7 crore of taxpayer money to renovate his official bungalow at Devaraj Urs Road (Race Course), about Rs 35 lakh of which went into redoing his bedroom. Going by current austerity norms for politicians, Yeddyurappa���s generous spend is unlikely to make him a role model.

Renovation and fittings of the master bedroom alone cost Rs 34.55 lakh. This includes toilet works and interiors at Rs 10 lakh, marble flooring at Rs 10 lakh, a false ceiling and wall designs at Rs 4.40 lakh and Rs 10.15 lakh for gypsum board and wall panelling.

In an earlier report, TOI had revealed that the Karnataka government had incurred expenses of nearly Rs 1 crore for holding a cabinet meeting in Gulbarga last year.



The RTI also revealed that another Rs 14.65 lakh was spent to improve ���bedroom number 2��� in the CM���s residence. Rs 10 lakh was spent on marble flooring and Rs 4.65 lakh on imported wallpaper. In all, Rs 1.69 crore was spent on renovation.

After the BJP government came to power in May 2008, the total sanctioned ���estimate amount��� for the renovation, repairs and improvements of official residences of all ministers, including Yeddyurappa, has been over Rs 10 crore.

K���taka Speaker spent Rs 4 lakh on fixtures

An RTI reply has revealed that Karnataka CM Yeddyurappa has spent a staggering Rs 1.7 crore to renovate his official bungalow at Devaraj Urs Road (Race Course).

While Yeddyurappa has preferred to stay in this house after becoming CM, uncertainty over whether he would continue in the Race Course Road bungalow or shift to ������Anugraha������ (designated residence for CMs) near Sankey Road, saw the government spend Rs 9 lakh for toilet works at the latter, besides spending Rs 10 lakh to paint that house. ������Anugraha������ has now been occupied by Yeddyurappa loyalist and home minister V S Acharya.

Not all ministers are residing in official bungalow, though. While revenue minister G Karunakara Reddy has a flair for wardrobes and has fitted his bedrooms at a cost of Rs 8.08 lakh and put in sanitary fittings worth Rs 7.20 lakh, social welfare minister D Sudhakar went for a modular kitchen, priced at Rs 4.41 lakh.

Even Speaker Jagadish Shettar has not lagged behind. A sum of Rs 4.70 lakh has been spent on the wardrobe and storage cabinet at his residence, ������Cauvery������ on Kumarakrupa Road.