Guwahati:

The Assam authorities spent Rs 1.1 crore from a tiger conservation fund to pay for meals, tents, carpets, and different issues throughout ex-President Ram Nath Kovind’s go to to Kaziranga Nationwide Park final 12 months.

The data was revealed in response to an RTI question by activist Rohit Choudhury.  

In its response, the Kaziranga discipline director’s workplace stated that Rs 1.1 crore was spent in the course of the ex-President’s go to. The quantity was taken from Kaziranga Tiger Conservation Basis as a grant.

The inspiration is funded by the elephant and jeep safaris that the nationwide park runs. Assam has 2 different such foundations geared toward conserving tigers – on the Manas and Nameri reserves.

The cash taken from the Kaziranga basis as grant in support was used to pay for meals and renovation of halls, tents, and mementos throughout ex-President Kovind’s go to.

A complete of Rs 2,43,768 was spent on meals on February 20, exhibits the RTI reply, a duplicate of which has been accessed by NDTV. One other Rs 50,000 had been spent for tea on February 26.

Rs 97,940 have been listed as expense to buy an air air purifier, whereas a retroreflective board and memento for the ex-President price Rs 6.2 lakhs.

Mr Choudhury wrote to the state chief secretary concerning the alleged diversion of funds final month, citing the Kaziranga discipline director’s reply to his RTI petition, which he had filed on Could 18, 2022.

“Moreover the 1.1 crores that was spent from the tiger basis’s corpus on the President’s go to, one other Rs 51 lakh was diverted from a common wildlife fund,” Mr Choudhury acknowledged within the letter.