SHILLONG: Festivals have cost the State exchequer dearly as per a government data.
The data reveals that crores of rupees were drained out of the State coffer to organise the festivals.
While the State spent Rs 5.34 crore on Terra Madre held in 2015, the Government gave away Rs 2.20 crore for the production of Bollywood film Rock On 2 in 2016.
The money spent for holding Cherry Blossom Festival 2016 was a whopping Rs 91.26 lakh.
The expenditure incurred for the 18 Degrees Festival held in 2014 was Rs 1 crore.
The Film Festival held in 2016 resulted in the expenditure of Rs 52.18 lakh.
Though not in the category of festivals, the cost for the cocktail dinner hosted by the Meghalaya Government during the South Asian Games 2016 was Rs 82.30 lakh.
Moreover, just for the inaugural function of Meghalaya House, Kolkata, the money spent was Rs 40.84 lakh.
The amount spent on the Chief Minister’s Golf Tournament in 2016 was Rs 55 lakh.
The Meghalaya Day celebration 2017 was organised at the cost of Rs 61.40 lakh.
The question related to the expenditure involved in the festivals, meant to be taken up during the question hour of the Assembly, was put forward by Congress legislator and KHADC CEM P N Syiem on March 20.
However, the question lapsed.
