Vij-led Rio Olympics junket cost exchequer ₹1.05 crore: RTI

BESIDES THE MINISTER, THE DELEGATION COMPRISED PANCHKULA AND REWARI MLAS, ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY (SPORTS) AMONG OTHERS

ROHTAK : Haryana sports minister Anil Vij-led eight-member delegation’s trip to Rio De Janeiro in Brazil to attend the 2016 Olympics cost the state exchequer ₹1.05 crore, an RTI query has revealed.

The query was filed by Gurgaon-based activist Harinder Dhingra.

Besides Vij, the delegation comprised Panchkula MLA Gyan Chand Gupta, Rewari MLA Randhir Singh, additional chief secretary (sports) KK Khandelwal, additional director (sports) OP Sharma, Haryana CM’S media advisor Amit Arya, private secretary to sports minister RP Chhokar and private secretary to additional chief secretary (sports) Subhash Chander.

As per records, the government spent a whooping Rs 95 lakh in air tickets, hotel bookings, tickets of opening/closing ceremonies of Olympics, boarding lodging etc. for the eight members.

Rs 4 lakh were spent in purchasing of dollars and matrix card.

Another 4.5 lakh were spent in purchase of tickets of various Olympics events, while Rs 1.5 lakh was given to the eight members as their daily allowance.

The state had contributed maximum 22 players to the 121member Indian contingent to Rio Olympics. Haryana’s Sakshi Malik had bagged the bronze medal in wrestling.