Assam’s former CM Tarun Gogoi spent Rs 8.97 cr alone in helicopter tour in his last tenure

BJP-led Assam government on Monday said on the floor of Assam Assembly during the Budget session that a total of Rs 8,97,76,880 was spent for the helicopter tour of former CM Tarun Gogoi during his last tenure between the financial year 2011-12 to 2015-16.

Replying a question of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) MLA Utpal Dutta, Assam’s Forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma said on behalf of Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal that for the former CM’s helicopter tour Rs 1,63,86,154 was spent in 2011-12, Rs 2,08,76,575 in 2012-13, Rs 73,49,680 in 2013-14, Rs 2,47,91,954 in 2014-15 and Rs 2,03,72,517 in 2015-16.

The minister said that apart from helicopter expenditure, Rs 1,20,57,702 was also spent for his air tour from 2001 to 2016.

“The former CM travelled 19 times foreign trips and during his foreign trips Rs 46,37,005 was spent from the state exchequer,” the minister said.

The Assam minister also said that a total of Rs 1,81,30,858 was spent as TA, DA expenditure of the former CM during the period.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)