Over Rs 500 Cr spent on security of 1472 political activists

Over Rs. 506.75 crore have been spent on the security cover of 1472 political activists in the State in last five years.
“During this year, an amount of Rs.118.63 crore was spent on security of 1472 political activists in the State. In 2010-11 the amount spent was Rs. 85.95 crores while in 2011-12, Rs. 93.70 crore was spent on security cover of political activists,” Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who also holds Home portfolio, told Legislative Assembly in a written reply today in response to question by MLA Rajesh Gupta.
He said the total expenditure incurred on security of political activists in 2012-13 touched Rs 101.06 crore and it was Rs. 107.06 crores in 2013-14.
Mufti said the money includes expenditure on salaries of Personal Security Officers (PSO) and guards provided to political activists, fuel used in the security vehicles and rent of hotel accommodation provided to them.
“An amount of Rs 149.92 crore was spent as salary to PSOs in last five years. The salary of guards is Rs. 309.35 crore, expenditure on fuel in security vehicles is Rs. 26.41 crore and rent of hotel accommodation is Rs. 20.89 crore,” he said.
The data provided by Estates Department revealed that Rs. 232 lakhs were spent on ministerial bungalows and the records in Srinagar were washed away in the floods.
Mufti disclosed that Srinagar has the highest number of 804 political activists while Jammu region has 637 and least number of 31 belong to the cold desert region of Ladakh.
He, however, said no imported vehicle has been provided to any political activist.
“As on date, 440 political activists including 294 uncategorized political activists have been provided secured hotel accommodation,” CM said.