The chief minister, ministers and top officials would now fly economy class, as Karnataka government today announced a series of austerity measures in the wake of the floods that left a trail of destruction in the state.
Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa issued directions withdrawing the benefits of those at the chief secretary's level to travel by executive class.
Chief secretary, principal secretaries and those in public sector undertakings, chief minister, ministers and officials enjoying the privileges of ministers have also been brought under this purview, and would now travel only by economy class, Yeddyurappa told reporters here.
Steps would be to cut non-plan expenditure of departments in 2009-10 by 190%. Creation of new posts and filling existing vacancies would be withheld.
No official meetings and workshops can be organised in star hotels, and barring FDI-related projects, foreign visits could not be at the expense of the state government, the directive said.
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