The prime minister´s office took this step after finding the ministers to have spent Rs 7.8 million for district level visits over the past six months alone. [break]
Talking to Republica separately, two government secretaries confirmed that they had received the circular from PMO asking the ministers to be economic. They said the circular have been forwarded to their respective secretariats.
The ministers have been asked not make district visits for petty issues and make their visit short if they have to, according to government secretaries. The ministers have also been asked to not stay in a hotel if government quarters are available.
In addition, the prime minister´s office has also directed the ministries to issue circulars to all the offices under them to send receipts of the expenses to PMO within three days.
"If concerned district offices do not send the bills within three days, the expenses will be marked as in arrears," said a government secretary.
The circulars also require ministers to claim reimbursement for their district visits within 15 days. Failure to do so would deprive them of reimbursement.
According to a recent report prepared by PMO, ministers have spent as much Rs 665,900 for district level visits. Minister for Industries and Supplies Anil Kumar Jha earns the distinction for drawing the highest amount of Rs 100,000 per month on an average.
"A minister has to make a lot of trips and he cannot cover all the expenses on his own," said Jha.
Asked if he was aware of the austerity measures introduced by the government, he said, "Reducing travels do not make the country any better. We adopted austerity measures and this has reduced unnecessary expenses."
Minister for Local Development Top Bahadur Rayamajhi is second in the list of the ministers drawing the highest amount of money for district trips. PMO has given Rs 481,025 to Rayamajhi for his travel expenses. Minister Lokendra Bista is third in the list drawing Rs 432,918 from the national treasury for district visits.
Similarly, State Minister Gopi Acchhami spent Rs 305,655 over the past six months for such trips. Similarly, Minister Dan Bahadur Chaudhary spent Rs 351,800.
Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, Minister for Finance Barshaman Pun, Minister for Education Dinanath Sharma, Minister for Irrigation Mahendra Yadav, Minister for Land Reforms Bhim Prasad Gautam, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperative Nandan Dutt, Minister for Youth and Sports Kamal Roka and Minister without portfolio Raj Lal Yadav are also among the ministers drawing the highest amount of money for district visits.
Sources said most of the ministers clam reimbursement for personal trips to district.
"I will be on a district visit since Sunday to attend a marriage ceremony on government expenses. I risk losing my cadres support if I do not attend the ceremony," said minister Jha. "I cannot afford to pay for visits like this one."
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