Programme: The Inside Story Telecast : October 12, 9:30 pm Repeat Telecast: October 14, Tuesday, 4:30 pm ‘Serving the nation’ is a very lucrative profession, if the perks provided to the Members of the Parliament are anything to go by. From accommodation in choicest locations to telephone, electricity, travel and many other facilities, the list of freebies that come with an MP’s job is a long one. But unfortunately, none of that seems to suffice for our elected representatives.
A shockingly large number of MPs have been known not only to largely overshoot their allotted limits for telephone and electricity usage, but also to default on the payment of outstanding bills. These dues run to the tune of a staggering Rs 12 crore for just MTNL and BSNL, of which MTNL has to recover Rs 9.47 crore from 617 former MPs and Rs 2.20 crore from 83 sitting MPs. NDMC records show Rs 5.25 crore as outstanding for the MPs’ water and power bills. Similarly, huge amounts are due to be paid to ITDC. But unpaid bills are just one part of the story. Another matter of concern is the blatant misuse of the accommodation facilities provided to the MPs. The Inside Story team visited the VIP areas in the capital, and found that many MPs were using the servant quarters and the garage space allotted to them to earn extra income on the side. Servant quarters had been rented out for accommodation, while garage spaces were let out for commercial activities. We found a dyeing unit, a pan shop, a motor mechanic, a dhobi and a tailor operating out of the garages in various MPs’ residences.
The concerned government agencies have turned a blind eye on the situation, as the consequences of attempting a recovery of these dues will not be too pleasant. The Inside Story this week will uncover all these discrepancies and bring to light the darker side of the story.