Punjab govt issues instructions to officials to cut expenses

Chandigarh, June 8

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The Punjab government on Monday issued instructions to all state departments, including ministers and senior officials, to ensure austerity in public expenditure for the financial year 2015-16.

In a statement to all Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, District and Sessions Judges, the Registrar, Punjab and Haryana High Court and heads of various government departments, it has been conveyed “to follow the instruction regarding austerity measure in true spirit”.

As per an official release issued today, all the departments have been directed to maintain a balance between their limited income resources and expenditure and not to exceed the budget limit in their departmental expenditures.

Looking to further curb expenses, the instructions permitted ministers and officers holding charge of more than one office to use vehicles of only one department.

It also added that the remaining vehicles would not be used, debarring departments to demand an additional budget for these vehicles.

The release also sought to convey to all departments to ensure prudence in electricity and telephone expenditures.

It was also conveyed in the instructions that except chief secretary, deputy commissioners, divisional commissioners and SSPs, other officers would not be paid for telephone, electricity, furniture and other expenditures from state exchequer for camp offices operating at their residences. — PTI