The government spent around Tk 39.93 crore as fuel cost of vehicles used by the VVIPs, VIPs in visiting their respective districts for administrative purpose in 2016-17 fiscal, Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam told the parliament today.

Tk 6.48 crore was spent for gas and fuel expenditure and Tk 32 crore for petrol and lubricant for road way vehicles while around Tk 1.45 crore was spent for petrol and lubricant for water way transports, the minister said responding to lawmakers’ queries.

The minister said the government’s transport directorate allocates Sedan cars to the government officials from deputy secretary to senior secretary for fulltime use of their vehicles.

The amount of fuel for allocated transports was fixed to check misuse, he said.

The entitled officials monthly get 180 litre petrol or for CNG run car get 27 litre petrol as start-up and 270 cubic meter gas as fuel from the respective ministries, he said.

Besides, the privileged officials of various offices, organisations and directorates if full-time  used the vehicle of  directorate, would get Tk 25,000 for repair, fuel and driver salary for the official’s own car (purchased in cash ) to keep it operative,  the minister said.

If there was no facility for fulltime using car by office or organisation Tk 50.000 would be allocated for maintenance of vehicle following release order of ministries or department concerned along with recommendation of head of the office, Ashraf said.