Officials’ foreign trips at state’s expense banned, Dy CM welcomes move

Patna: The NDA govt has banned foreign travels on govt’s expenses by the state govt officials for the next six months amid the govt’s focus on strict austerity measures as a result of rising global fuel crisis caused by the conflicts in West Asia. The development comes close on the heels of the PM Narendra Modi making repeated appeals to the masses to shun extravagant expenses and cut fuel consumption in the national interest.“Sarkari kharche par padadhikariyon ki videsh yatra par agle chheh mah ke liye samanyatah pratibandh rahega (There will be a general ban on foreign travel of officials at govt expense for the next six months),” reads one of the six instructions issued by chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit to all ACSs, principal secretaries, secretaries, all divisional commissioners and all district magistrates on Tuesday evening.“This is a welcome step by the state govt. If we go on foreign trips, this will put pressure on foreign exchange reserves,” deputy CM Vijay Kumar Choudhary told reporters on Wednesday. Stating that the move was taken in the right direction, the Choudhary said it would be the responsibility of every Indian to work in the national interest. He advised the citizens to cut the fuel consumption.Amid other initiatives taken to maintain financial discipline, make proper use of natural resources and conserve energy, the state govt laid focus on promoting carpooling from state-level to district level and encouraging the purchase of electric vehicles or hiring electric vehicles on rent.Laying stress on energy conservation, the govt missive has also ordered nominating a nodal officer for energy conservation. “All departments should nominate a nodal authority for energy conservation at the headquarters level whose monthly meeting will be held at the level of secretary, energy department,” said the directive. It was also told to the officials not to misuse ACs, and mandatorily switch off all electric equipment after the office hours.The state govt has also ordered for the use of solar energy in all govt offices, guest houses and govt buildings. “All the drawing and disbursal officers of the state should make efforts to ensure that the average consumption of fuel and electricity in respect of their offices remains lower as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year due to the above measures,” the missive stated.These are latest in the list of initiatives adopted by the state govt to cut fuel cost. Quite many ministers walked to the office or had few cars in convoys to cut fuel consumption, hoping their small action would inspire the citizens to follow suit.