Cash-hit Punjab gifts cars to MLAs

The cash-strapped Punjab government has decided to purchase 72 Toyota Qualises for its MLAs. This will put an extra burden of Rs 3.83 crore ...

The cash-strapped Punjab government has decided to purchase 72 Toyota Qualises for its MLAs. This will put an extra burden of Rs 3.83 crore on Amarinder Singh’s government which is already in the throes of a financial crisis.

Sources said the State Finance Department has already cleared the purchase of the first lot of 54 vehicles and has already placed an order with the Chandigarh-based MP Motors. The department is expected to give the clearance for the second lot soon. ‘‘The government has given the clearance for 72 Qualises for the MLAs,’’ said an official, adding the State Treasury has been instructed to release the money.

Sources said the vehicles will be Euro-II compliant and the total cost will work out to about Rs 3.83 crore. The government has sanctioned Rs 2.52 crore for the first 54 cars.

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Meanwhile, Punjab Police has also ordered six Toyota Qualises at a cost of Rs 28.88 lakh for the force. The money has been sanctioned by the Centre from its modernisation fund. The vehicles will be given to officers posted as commandants in the Punjab Armed Police. The order for these six vehicles has also been placed with MP Motors.

A police functionary said, ‘‘The state police will buy another 25 Qualises soon in a month’s time. Some of these will be given to commandants in Punjab Armed Police and the rest are likely to be attached to the security wing of the police as escort vehicles for VIPs.’’