Bengaluru: Just days after assuming office, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy made a big announcement today that no new cars or office remodeling will be done this year in the state government.
"I have already instructed the Chief Secretary about avoiding unnecessary expenditure," Kumaraswamy told reporters after his meeting with actor-politician Kamal Haasan.
As part of the austerity measures, no new cars can be bought by any department or minister.
Ministers or officers who might want to refurbish their offices in the Vidhan Soudha or the state Assembly building in Bengaluru, also need to hold on to their plans this year.
"I have said that it is not necessary to renovate anything this year. I have given all the steps required to control unnecessary expenditure," Kumaraswamy said.
The restraint measures come within days the new government in Karnataka reportedly waived advances taken by farmers.
On May 30, the Chief Minister had said his government's priority was to look after the farmers and keep his promise to waive farm loans within 15 days of coming to power.
Janata Dal Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy took over as the chief minister after days of turmoil because of a fractured verdict in which no party got a clear majority.
As the BJP struggled to reach an outright majority, the Congress offered the JDS a coalition government that would be headed by H D Kumaraswamy.
