Kerala Ministers' air fare amount to Rs 24 lakh

Thiruvananthapuram, June 19: Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and his Cabinet colleagues have spent Rs 24 lakh for air travel during the past one year, the state Assembly was informed today.

In a written reply, the Chief Minister said he spent Rs 4.16 lakh for the 37 air travels during the period. Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran was the lone member in his Cabinet who had not spent anything on air travel.

During the one-year period, Electricity Minister S Sarma took the maximum of 49 flights, spending Rs 1.13 lakh, followed by Finance Minister Thomas Issac, who travelled 44 times by spending Rs 2.19 lakh. Health Minister P K Sreemathy spent Rs 2.76 lakh for her 24 trips.

Mr P J Joseph, who had to step down as Public Works Minister following an allegation of sexual misconduct with a woman co-passenger on board an aircraft, travelled 26 times, spending Rs 1.10 lakh. His successor T U Kuruvila also travelled 18 times and spent Rs 23,188 for the purpose, the Chief Minister said.

UNI