Cash-strapped states spare no expense on celebrations

TS, AP spend crores on festivities each year

Though facing a financial crunch, both the Telugu states are spending crores of public money on state functions like Republic Day, Independence Day and others.

Interestingly, AP, which is in a much worse state than TS in financial terms, has been far more liberal when it comes to spending money.

For conducting the Republic Day function, the AP government spent about `3 crore this year, while the TS government spent just `15 lakh.

Officials say that it is natural that AP is spending more than TS since the latter state has an estab- lished capital city while the former is forced to organise the functions in different cities in the state due to non-availability of an established capital city.

“This is the main reason why AP is spending such huge amounts, the officials said.

For conducting Independence Day celebrations in 2016, the TS government spent about `4 crore and while AP spent `10 crore.

However, when it comes to celebrating the Telangana Formation Day on June 2, the TS government has been adopting a ‘no holds barred’ approach, spending a mammoth `18 crore on celebrations in 2016.

AP, also conducts weeklong programmes by the name of “Nava Nirmana Deeksha”, spent a much more sedate `3.47 crore.

For conducting At Home at the Raj Bhavan as part of the of Republic Day celebrations, the TS government spent `13 lakh. However, the AP government hosted High Tea at Vijayawada Municipal Stadium spending `43 lakh.

For hosting dinners marking Christmas and Id-ulFitr festivals, both the governments spent lakhs of rupees. The two Telugu states also organise more common state functions like Gandhi Jayanti, Valmiki Jayanti and others.

Besides, the governments of the two states also organise state functions every year like birthday celebrations of Acharya Konda Laxman Bapuji by the TS government and Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam Panthulu by the AP government.