Karnataka MLAs to go to Latin America for 'studying water falls in Amazon forests'
BANGALORE: A 30-member Karnataka legislators delegation is planning to take off to three Latin American countries in January, to "study the water falls in the Amazon forests and sporting activity," which will cost the state exchequer Rs 2.25 crore.
Confirming the junket, Congress MLA Mallikaiah V Guttedar, who heads the legislature committee on estimates told TOI here on Wednesday that there was nothing wrong in the fortnight trip they are planning. "We legislators get only one opportunity to undertake a study tour abroad in five years, whereas MPs go often. There is nothing wrong in us going on these junkets," he added.
Guttedar said the dates are yet to be finalized and most likely would be after the brief legislature session in January. The trip would cost Rs 7.5 lakh per member. "We will visit the Amazon forest and study the waterfalls there to see how it can be replicated in Karnataka as we have thick forests here. We will also visit Brazil to see the sporting activity there," he maintained.
According to the itinerary prepared by a reputed travel agency the junket is for 16 days and 15 nights in January to Argentina, Brazil and Peru. They will be provided accommodation in deluxe hotels and will have to bear the cost of English speaking tour guides in each of the cities.
The itinerary for the tour includes boat tour of Buanabara Bay and Sugar Loaf mountains, visit to Tijuca rain forest, Amazon jungle tour, Tango show in Buenos Aires and a desert safari in Dubai on the way back.
Committee member and Congress MLA NA Haris said such trips provided a good opportunity for the legislators to get to know each other. "I don't think its wrong. We don't get to travel by business class. 300 legislators represent six crore population of Karnataka. Its generally the first and second time legislators who go on these junkets. Last time I went to Washington and London, it gave me an insight into many things. Our state budget is Rs 1.21 lakh crore and in this a couple of lakhs for junket will not matter," he added.
However, one of the panel member, BJP MLA V Suneel Kumar said he was not part of the junket. "My constituency work is import," he claimed.
During the BJP government in August 2012, when the state was reeling under drought, 14 MLAs had gone on a junket to South America, Peru and Brazil. Then Congress MLA BC Patil had taken exception to the flak their tour had received. "Why shouldn't we go on a junket? Are we committing theft or dacoity? It is our privilege as legislators," he had maintained.
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Karnataka-MLAs-to-go-to-Latin-America-for-studying-water-falls-in-Amazon-forests/articleshow/27924810.cms
Confirming the junket, Congress MLA Mallikaiah V Guttedar, who heads the legislature committee on estimates told TOI here on Wednesday that there was nothing wrong in the fortnight trip they are planning. "We legislators get only one opportunity to undertake a study tour abroad in five years, whereas MPs go often. There is nothing wrong in us going on these junkets," he added.
Guttedar said the dates are yet to be finalized and most likely would be after the brief legislature session in January. The trip would cost Rs 7.5 lakh per member. "We will visit the Amazon forest and study the waterfalls there to see how it can be replicated in Karnataka as we have thick forests here. We will also visit Brazil to see the sporting activity there," he maintained.
According to the itinerary prepared by a reputed travel agency the junket is for 16 days and 15 nights in January to Argentina, Brazil and Peru. They will be provided accommodation in deluxe hotels and will have to bear the cost of English speaking tour guides in each of the cities.
The itinerary for the tour includes boat tour of Buanabara Bay and Sugar Loaf mountains, visit to Tijuca rain forest, Amazon jungle tour, Tango show in Buenos Aires and a desert safari in Dubai on the way back.
Committee member and Congress MLA NA Haris said such trips provided a good opportunity for the legislators to get to know each other. "I don't think its wrong. We don't get to travel by business class. 300 legislators represent six crore population of Karnataka. Its generally the first and second time legislators who go on these junkets. Last time I went to Washington and London, it gave me an insight into many things. Our state budget is Rs 1.21 lakh crore and in this a couple of lakhs for junket will not matter," he added.
However, one of the panel member, BJP MLA V Suneel Kumar said he was not part of the junket. "My constituency work is import," he claimed.
During the BJP government in August 2012, when the state was reeling under drought, 14 MLAs had gone on a junket to South America, Peru and Brazil. Then Congress MLA BC Patil had taken exception to the flak their tour had received. "Why shouldn't we go on a junket? Are we committing theft or dacoity? It is our privilege as legislators," he had maintained.
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Karnataka-MLAs-to-go-to-Latin-America-for-studying-water-falls-in-Amazon-forests/articleshow/27924810.cms