Rs 13-crore proposal sent to govt for Belagavi session expensesOrBelagavi session to cost govt Rs 13 crore

Belagavi: A proposal for Rs 13.2 crore has been submitted to the state govt by the district administration for this year's winter session scheduled to be held in the city from Dec 9 to 20.As per the information gathered from the DC office, Rs 7 crore will be spent on the accommodation of ministers, legislators and officials attending the session.Protests by various organisations have been allowed in two places outside the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha (SVS) and Rs 8.50 lakh is earmarked for land rent.Hotels, lodges, resorts and guest houses in and around the city have been reserved for guests for the 10-day session.According to officials, the proposal for the expenses is based on the spending for the previous year's winter session.The officials also submitted a cost estimate for the arrangement of meals at the VTU guest house where the speaker of the House and senior officials will stay, tea and refreshments during the meetings of the House committees and the Chief Minister's Office, catering for dignitaries inside the SVS and food arrangements for liaison officers, staff, and vehicle drivers, among others. This is expected to cost Rs 2.80 crore.Meanwhile, Rs 44 lakh is allocated for internet facilities and telephones at the places where dignitaries stay, Rs 45 lakh for fuel for vehicles, Rs 25 lakh for urgent rental vehicles during the session, Rs 20 lakh for accommodation for vehicle drivers, and Rs 15 lakh for decorating buildings with flowers.It is stated that an additional cost of Rs 25 lakh will be incurred for cleaning, hot water systems, and stationery.A sum of Rs 15 lakh is allocated for cultural programmes in front of SVS, Rs 4 lakh for session information manuals, and various identity cards, and Rs 25,000 for expenses of govt vehicle drivers on duty at the district training centre.Deputy commissioner Mohammad Roshan said at a preparatory meeting that the district administration tried to reduce the expenses for the session this time.