Chandigarh, July 18
Governor Shivraj Patil costs Punjab exchequer more than Rs 38,000 daily on account of his air travel to different parts of the country. A sizeable number of these flights are to Delhi and parts of his home state, Maharashtra.

There are no rules questioning the distance and the number of flights undertaken by a state Governor, except a formal communication to the President. A senior Congress leader, the Punjab Peoples’ Party chief and some others have questioned the “propriety of too many flights beyond the state limits for nothing official”.

Records procured under the RTI Act revealed that the Punjab Government spent around Rs 2 crore on Governor’s air travel between January 2012 and May 2013. He undertook at least 18 trips during that period. Records revealed that he kept the helicopter or the plane at his disposal for more than a day on certain travels outside the state. Favourite destinations on the Governor’s itinerary included Tirupati, Latur, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

The most expensive trip was a three-day visit to Hyderabad from July 12, 2012. It cost more than Rs 16 lakh. A trip on July 11 cost more than Rs 13 lakh and a flight in August cost nearly Rs 14.5 lakh.

Earlier this year, the Governor travelled to Juhu, Pandurpur and Latur. Flights to Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Amritsar on a single day cost Rs 9 lakh. The government engaged Air Charter Services and Span Air for facilitating Governor’s air travel.

MP Singh, Principal Secretary to the Punjab Governor, said, “There is no rule defining the travel limits for a Governor. Travel is a privilege of the position and the President house is duly communicated about such a movement. The Governor was working throughout the year, except for 10-day holiday twice a year. The post allowed the facility of air travel.”

The state government allows air travel facility to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Kairon. Manpreet Badal, president of the Punjab Peoples’ Party, said, “The post of Governor was beyond questioning. However, leaders of that stature need to set examples. Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi did not wear even a shirt, not because he could not afford it. He had the Birlas to back him. It was just a reflection of his compassion for his countrymen.”

A Principal Secretary said, “We cannot question the visits of the state head. However, I am sure no one will object to keeping a record of all the visits undertaken by the Governor based on expenses out of the state exchequer.”