Bhubaneswar: Two days after the government issued a letter to Raj Bhavan seeking details of Governor’s use of aircraft and helicopter during his tour to Delhi and Haryana recently, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi called on him Friday and expressed his “deep regrets” at the manner in which the missive was sent.
Padhi apprised the Governor that his travel from Bhubaneswar to Sirsa by chartered flight and helicopter had already been approved by the state government, sources in the Chief Secretary’s office said here.
Padhi assured the Governor that stringent action would be taken against those responsible for sending the communication.
The General Administration (GA) department Wednesday had written to the special secretary to the Governor regarding aircraft and chopper expenses amounting to nearly `46.18 lakh.
In the letter, GA deputy secretary Indira Behera had sought a clarification on the purpose of the Governor’s visit to New Delhi and Haryana between June 10 and June 14 and use of chopper and jet for the purpose.
“It may be kindly intimated the reason and circumstances for hiring of a helicopter for use of Governor and deviation in the approved schedule of the flight and whether approval of the competent authority has been taken for the purpose or not,” the letter read.
The special secretary to the Governor was also asked to sign the necessary user’s certificate for further action on part of the state government.