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Journalism of Courage
Bhopal, March 28: An austerity drive is being carried out in Madhya Pradesh to curtail non-Plan expenditure of more than Rs 13,000 crore, Finance Minister Ajay Narayan Mushran said on Saturday.
Talking to reporters here, he said the state government had already announced several measures to reduce expenditure. All concerned had been directed to strictly follow the 22 guidelines in this regard.
“Even if these measures help to bring down non-Plan expenditure by four to five per cent, annual saving of around Rs 500 crore will be affected, he said.
He said ministerial status granted to all non-Government persons had been withdrawn, a limit fixed for ministers on use of telephones having Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) facility, besides regulating use of vehicles by ministers and officers.
Admitting that there were officers who were keeping about eight government vehicles each at their disposal, Mushran said no officer of the government or the state public undertaking would be allowed to use more than avehicle.
Mushran said a total ban on foreign tours at the expense of state government or any public undertaking had been put into effect. “Except for the Governor and the Chief Minister, none would be permitted to use the state plane or helicopter,” he added.
Outlining the guidelines issued in this regard, he said the process had been set in motion and its outcome would be watched. “We are trying to save as much as possible,” he added. Mushran said the government had felt it necessary to bring out a white paper on the state’s financial position so that the people could know about the true picture.
