The Odisha government today expressed "deep regret" over the manner in which one of its departments had sent a letter to Raj Bhavan seeking details of Governor Ganeshi Lal's aircraft and chopper bills last month.
Chief Secretary A P Padhi called on Lal and apprised him that it was a "miscommunication" on the part of the general administration department.
"(Padhi) expressed his deep regret at the manner in which the letter was issued to the Governor's Office regarding use of aircraft," a release by the chief secretary's office said.
Padhi said the governor's visit to Sirsa in Haryana from Bhubaneswar by a chartered flight was approved by the state government.
The Odisha government's regret came two days after the general administration department demanded a clarification for Lal's aircraft and chopper bills of Rs 46.18 lakh last month, during his visit to New Delhi and Sirsa, his hometown.
"It may kindly be intimated the reason and circumstances for hiring a helicopter for use of Hon'ble Governor and deviation in the approved schedule of the flight, and whether approval of the competent authority has been taken for the purpose or not," Indira Behera, deputy secretary in the general administration department, wrote to special secretary to the governor on Wednesday.
The letter enclosed the invoice of Pinnacle Air Private Ltd towards use of twin-engine Jet Aircraft Legacy 650 (VT-AOK) for a round trip between Bhubaneswar and New Delhi on June 10 and June 13, amounting to Rs 41.18 lakh, and use of another chopper from New Delhi to Sirsa for Rs 5 lakh.
Padhi, in his letter to Raj Bhavan today, said stringent action would be taken against people responsible for the "miscommunication".
Reacting to the government's action, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said the ruling party "backtracked" on its earlier move, just 1.5 hours after he sought a clarification on CM Naveen Patnaik's expenses.
"Not even 90 minutes since we sought details of Rs 26.55 crore the CM & his colleagues spent on helicopter rides, the BJD government BACKTRACKED on the explanation it sought from Governor (sic)," he tweeted.
Earlier today, the OPCC president lauded the BJD government for questioning the governor on his expenses, while pointing out that the CM and his colleagues had spent Rs 26.55 crore on chopper rides in the past three years.
"It is heartening to see CM@Naveen_Odisha seeking accountability & asking Hon.Governor to explain his Rs 46 lakh expenditure on one air trip to Haryana! Wouldn't it be just great if CM also explains how he and his collegeues spent Rs 26.55 crore on helicopter rides in last three years," he posted on Twitter.
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