TRIPURA Government has embarked on an ambitious Austerity Mission. It has now decided to drastically cut down the unwanted expenditures.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar informed that a 21-point strategy to cut down unwanted expenditures had been formulated which will be monitored by a committee headed by Chief Secretary once it comes to effect shortly.

“We hope to cut down the administrative cost by about Rs. 20 crore within the current fiscal year so as to enrich our revenue heads”, he said.

“This will also help us in meeting the guidelines of the Eleventh Finance Commission under which a state has to increase the revenue by at least five per cent if more central allocations is desired”, he added.

Tripura earned Rs 250 crore as revenue last year and accordingly a savings of Rs 20 crore would indirectly go to the revenue head to make way for more central funding to the State.

Among the 21 items which have been categorised to fall under the “Austerity Mission” includes 10 percent cut in the expenditures incurred on electricity bills by the departments, public sector undertakings, co-operatives and autonomous bodies, cut in consumption of fuels by government vehicles with immediate effect, restriction on purchase as well as hiring of vehicles, restrictions on new telephone connections and use of STD, EPABX, internet and introduction of ceilings on telephones used by the government servants , restriction on air travel by government officials and ministers except travel to Guwahati and Kolkata.

“Even no computers and furniture would be purchased beyond the existing norms in the next two years and no unnecessary papers printed in stationery depots”, he pointed out.

Now onwards, any government officials cannot use any government vehicles for more than 100 kilometers in a month and the mileage valid for the particular month only. Besides, the mileage tariff has also been increased from Rs 1.20 to Rs 3.00 per kilometers.

Besides, the Chief Ministers also warned of strict measures if any officer’s family found using the vehicles for personal gains.

”Though we have undertaken the austerity measures about a year back but the results were not up to the mark”, confessed the Chief Minister. He further added that under the acute financial constraints, it was not possible for the government to send officers to Delhi to attend meetings and the officers posted in Delhi would be assigned to cover the job. Prior approval will now be required for the officers assigned with task outside.

The Chief minister also mentioned the constraints of power sector reforms under the present regime and hoped that once the guidelines of the Eleventh Finance Commission is met, reform measures in the Power sectors can be undertaken. The Chief Minister also took a dig at the Centre and its policy towards the fund strapped State Governments.

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