No new car, no bouquets as Raj Bhavan goes on an austerity drive

Practice of offering gifts to VVIPs discontinued; measures aimed at cutting spending by 15%

With the state’s revenue falling steeply due to the prolonged lockdown, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday announced a series of austerity steps to reduce Raj Bhavan’s expenses. Some of the measures include deferring the proposal to purchase a new limousine for the Raj Bhavan and not offering bouquets while welcoming VIP visitors at the official residence of the governor during the current fiscal, an official statement said.

These measures are estimated to save 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the Raj Bhavan’s budget during the current fiscal, it said.

The statement said the governor has instructed to not undertake any new capital work and not carry out any new major construction/repairing work at the Raj Bhavan in the current fiscal.

“Only the ongoing works will be continued and completed, the statement said.

Koshyari also instructed the officials to cancel the Independence Day reception to be held on August 15, 2020 at Raj Bhavan in Pune, it said.

There will be no new regular recruitment in Raj Bhavan until further orders. The proposal for the purchase of new car for Raj Bhavan be deferred, the statement said.

The practice of offering gifts/mementos to VVIPs now stands discontinued until further order. The practice of welcoming VIP visitors with bouquets too will be stopped, it said.

“Guest house rooms in Raj Bhavan should not be decorated with vases and flower-pots,” the statement said.

The governor has also asked to hold meetings and interactions with vice chancellors and various officers via video conference to avoid any expenses on travel.

Koshyari has already contributed his one-month salary and further pledged 30 per cent of his salary for one year to the PM CARES Fund for Covid-19, the statement said.

In the governor’s estimation, these austerity measures will be a small but significant contribution to save resources that can be used to reduce the sufferings of people in the backdrop of the situation arisen because of the coronavirus disease, it said.