A right to information activist Bhimappa Gadad, from Mudalagi in Gokak taluk found out that the a total sum of Rs 198 Lakhs was spent towards the President Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Belgaum in October to inaugurate the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha. The Circuit House was renovated completely before Pranab Mukherjee reached the venue while spending over Rs 161 lakhs for the same. An additional Rs 37 lakhs was spent for the furnishings in the meeting room where the president spent just an hour on October 11.

The information was provided to the RTI activist by the public works department. There are two Circuit House buildings in the same compound while the older one was renovated last year during the World Kannada Meet for which Rs 32 lakhs was spent in 2010-11 and Rs 18 lakh in 2011-12.

(AW- Anil)