UPA spends Rs 20L on lavish 4th anniversary bash

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/UPA-spends-Rs-20L-on-lavish-4th-anniversary-bash/articleshow/26758598.cms

Arunav Sinha,TNN | Dec 3, 2013, 04.54 AM IST

LUCKNOW: A few months ago Congress MP from Firozabad Raj Babbar had
said that a person can have full meals all day for Rs 12, while his
former Rajya Sabha colleague Rashid Masood claimed a meal can be
bought for Rs 5 in Delhi's Jama Masjid area. On the other hand, on the
fourth anniversary bash of the United Progressive Alliance, the
statements of both Congress leaders seem a cruel contrast to findings
in RTI documents that cost incurred at the party was Rs 6,871 per
guest, while total expenditure incurred on the May 22 event was Rs
20,61,359.

RTI document available with TOI states that out of 522 guests invited
to the function, only 300 eventually turned up. The total cost
incurred on floral decoration was Rs 10,896, while electricity charges
for the day was Rs 3,03,770. The bills pertaining to catering and tent
charges are still "under process", and as per RTI documents, they
stand at Rs 6,30,874 and Rs11,15,819. The sum total of these charges
is Rs 20,61,359.

The break-up of the material provided at 7, Race Course Road by Priya
Decorators (Tyagraj Market, Prem Nagar, New Delhi) is 31,000 square
feet waterproof pandal (@ Rs 20 per square feet), 22,322 square feet
white ceiling (@ Rs 10 per square feet), border measuring 5,700 square
feet (@ Rs 10 per square feet), 126 pillar covers (@ Rs 75 each),
jhaalar covering 120 feet (@ Rs 5 per feet), side wall cover measuring
140 square feet (@ Rs 5.75 per square feet), a stage and 40 trips of
cartage (@ Rs 800). The cost incurred in the waterproof pandal was Rs
6,20,000, on white ceiling Rs 2,23,220. Similarly, the cost of the
border was Rs 57,000. The total cost of the pillar cover, jhaalar and
side wall cover were Rs 9,450, Rs 600 and Rs 800, respectively. The
complete stage cost Rs 50,000 and the total cost incurred on cartage
was Rs 32,000. A service tax of Rs 1,22,744 (@12.36%) was also charged
by the decorator.

The non-vegetarian dinner package, which was ordered from Taj Palace
Hotel (Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Enclave) as buffet dinner for 300
guests was worth Rs 6,30,874. The per head cost incurred on the lavish
food was Rs 1,525 for the event, which lasted for nearly 5 hours (7.00
pm to midnight).

RTI applicant Urvashi Sharma had claimed that the prime minister's
office had earlier expressed its inability to provide the list of the
guests invited for the occasion owing to security reasons.