New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) spent Rs38.6 lakh on foreign and domestic tours by its officials in 2008-09 while the figure for the same has already reached Rs13.6 lakh in the current fiscal.

An expenditure of Rs12,66,345 was incurred by the MCD in 22 domestic official tours in 2009-10. The spending for one foreign tour so far this year was Rs1,01,710, official sources said.

The officials of the primary civic agency of the national capital had undertaken 79 domestic trips and three foreign trips in 2008-09, in which Rs29,42,243 and Rs9,24,903 were spent, respectively, they said.

Most of the tours were undertaken to upgrade knowledge and skill regarding public health, strategies for control of diseases like malaria and dengue, sanitation, maintenance of sanitary landfill sites and solid waste management.

In 2007-08, the total expenditure incurred for 63 domestic and three foreign tours was Rs37.07 lakh. This included spending of Rs27.83 lakh for travel within the country and Rs9.24 lakh for tours abroad.

The figure was Rs20,14,311 for 48 domestic trips and Rs2,55,987 for four foreign tours in 2006-07. The total expenditure for that year was Rs22.69 lakh.