23 Modi govt ministers spent Rs 3.5 cr on office renovations in 2 years: Report

However, the top four Cabinet ministers did not spend any money on their workplaces

Junior ministers of the Modi government, including those affected by the recent reshuffle in the Cabinet, have not been frugal when it comes to sprucing up their offices during the first two years of the NDA government, reported The Economic Times on Tuesday. 

However, according to the report, the top four Cabinet ministers of the government — External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar — have not spent any money on improving their offices.

Based on the response to the financial daily's query, under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, regarding office decoration expenses, the report said that 23 ministers had incurred a total expenditure of nearly Rs 3.5 crore on office renovations in the first two years of the current government. The report added that it was awaiting a response on its RTI queries regarding other ministers. 

Who were the top spenders?

Citing the available data, the report listed the following ministers as those who had spent the most on workplace renovations: Smriti Irani, Chaudhary Birender Singh, Rajyavardhan Rathore, Upendra Kushwaha, RS Katheria, JP Nadda, Sanwar Jat and Jitendra Singh.

According to the report, when Irani, who was shifted to the textiles portfolio during the recent reshuffle, was the human resource development (HRD) minister, Rs 1.16 crore was spent on renovation for the senior and two junior ministers. The report added that the expenditure amounted to just over Rs 70 lakh for Irani's office, with over Rs 40 lakh being spent for offices for two ministers of state.

Upon being questioned about the new offices for junior ministers, the HRD Ministry did not respond to the financial daily. 

Another big spender according to the report was Chaudhary, whose offices while he served as the rural development minister were renovated at a cost of nearly Rs 70 lakh, with the amount being spent on flooring and ceiling. 

But the ministry concerned, according to the report, did not respond to questions. 

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi ran up a bill of Rs 14 lakh, the report said, adding that the expenses included dustbins for Rs 7,000. Naqvi told ET that he did not have knowledge of the details, but added that his office was "in a shambles" when he took over. 

 

Among ministers of state, Rathore, Hansraj Ahir and Vishnu Deo Sai have also run up expenses on renovations.

With regard to the minister of state for information & broadcasting, Rathore, the ministry concerned told ET: "There was no office for MoS to sit in when he took over. He sat in a small room for over six months. The ministry got space on the first floor. The cost received under RTI is not for refurbishing an office. It is for constructing a new office. The space that we got was raw and bereft of standard civil/electrical design. The area of 2,200 square feet constructed comprises eight offices — minister's chambers, conference room for his meetings, space for his OSD, private secretary, office staff and waiting room."

For Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Nadda, the ministry concerned incurred a cost of Rs 22.37 lakh, the report added. The ministry told the financial daily: "The expenditure of Rs 10,60,511 reported to have incurred on modular furniture pertains to the construction of cabins and workstations, overhead storage, furniture and fixture meant for section/support staff attached to minister's office. Upgradation of sitting facilities for sectional staff is normal ongoing exercise...and is based on...requirement. No expenditure has been incurred on minister's own office." 

What do the rules allow?

The report also listed the rules pertaining to expenditure limits in such cases. Citing department of expenditure guidelines, the report said that for a minister's office at his or her residence, Rs 2 lakh can be spent on furniture and furnishings and Rs 1 lakh on electrical appliances. 

For a minister's office in the secretariat, the report said that Rs 6.5 lakh can be spent on furniture and furnishings and Rs 1.5 lakh on air conditioners and electrical appliances.