Austerity measures not for Manipur CM's bungalow

IMPHAL, April 25: Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam's agenda for austerity measures seems to have conveniently excluded his official bungalow. Despite the fact that the state government is facing acute financial crisis and its employees and pensioners have not been paid their salaries and pensions for the last two and a half months, in addition to the ban imposed by the Reserve Bank of India over all financial transactions of the state government, the recent major renovation works in the CM's bungalow is believed to have cost the state exchequer quite a few millions of rupees. A question has arisen in many circles whether it was really necessary for the CM to spend huge mount of money on beautification of the official residence of the Chief Minister. The major renovation work of the CM's bungalow was reportedly done rather lavishly and consuming more time to ensure that everything was in consonant to the taste of the Chief Minister. Leaving aside the amount spent on the electrical fittings, the areas where a huge expenditure has been incurred are the costly marble tiles and woolen carpets that are adorning the floors of the CM's bangalow. Extra money had also been allegedly spent on expensive settees and other furniture including a large and rather stylish double bed. It is said that these furniture were not procured from the state General Administrative Department (GAD) nor were the carpenters of Mechanical Division of the Public Works Department hired for the work. Instead, Koijam himself had it specially made at the furniture showroom, M/S Kangleipak. It may be mentioned here that all requirements of furniture for the Raj Bhawan Secretariat are generally supplied by the Carpentry Section of the state PWD. The interior decoration of the rooms of the CM's bungalow is also said to be done rather sumptuously and the electronic gadgets like computers with Internet facilities installed, etc are of high standard, reliable sources said. The sources said the rooms of the bungalow have been laid with thick woolen carpets of sea-green color costing Rs 1,490 per square meter. The shop supplying the expensive carpets situated at Paona bazar revealed to this newspaper that the rate of the cost of the carpet is the same with that of the prevailing rate in metros like New Delhi, and the supplier had been assured of no delay in payment. It is estimated that approximately Rs 3 to 4 lakh would have been spent on laying the carpet in one room. The office room situated inside the bungalow and the newly constructed two small study-rooms adjacent to Koijam's bedroom have been laid with imported marble tiles. And the newly renovated Sanamahi room is also said to have been decorated with great care. Meanwhile the engineers of the building section of the PWD who have been entrusted with the repairing works of the bungalow told the Yakairol that the rate of the woolen carpet at which Koijam had procured is the approved rate of the government. To a question why such a highly expensive repairing work had been taken up, was it because the former occupant had dirtied it, the engineers said that such works are usually done after every change of the Chief Minister. Though, they admitted that this time they have made elaborate arrangement as directed to suit the taste of the Chief Minister and that they were pleased with the outcome. To another question, the dutiful engineers admitted that the renovation work they had done for the ex-CM, W Nipamacha was not that lavish nor during the time of Rishang Keishing's tenure as had been done this time.