Bhubaneswar, Aug. 26: The state government’s expenses towards hiring of choppers has gone up 67 times over the last decade.

While the state had spent only Rs 9.46 lakh in 2000-01, the figure is 2012-13 is around Rs 6.38 crore.

In 2012-13, the state government spent the amount on hiring choppers for use of the chief minister, Union ministers, the National Human Rights Commission team and state ministers of the finance, health and family welfare minister, sports and youth service, food supply and consumer welfare, energy, school and mass education, revenue and disaster, pancahyati raj, women and child development, commerce and transport and ST and SC development departments.

A statement placed by chief minister Naveen Patnaik in the Assembly today said the state’s expenditure towards hiring choppers had increased over the years. Sources said Naveen’s bill for hiring a chopper was quite high as compared to other ministers. However, Naveen did not give the break-up on who had spent how much.

“At present, renting a chopper costs Rs 1.7 lakh for an hour,” said an official.