Govt cuts officers’ vehicle entitlement

Dimapur, March 29 (MExN): The Transport department today issued an official order ‘streamlining’ and ‘rationalizing’ purchase, entitlement, maintenance and discarding of government vehicles attached with government officials in Nagaland. 

The rules are to be implemented with effect from April 1. The notification stipulating the system, a part of the State’s “austerity measures,” received here was appended by CM Tsanglao, secretary to the Government of Nagaland.

On vehicle entitlement to government officers, the government only officers from the rank of Secretary and above would now be entitled to government vehicles while posted to the secretariat. Officers below the rank of secretary holding special post that require mobility, vehicles would be attached to them subject of availability of vehicles. 

On loan facilities, interest-free loans may be given to officers in the secretariat who are not provided with government vehicles, from the rank of joint secretary and above.

The notification also stipulated petrol entitlements, maintenance, purchase of wheels and tubes of vehicles, and cost limit for purchase of vehicles. The cost limit for ministers/parliamentary secretaries/advisors/chief secretary is up to Rs. 13 Lakhs. For additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries/commissioner and secretaries the limit is up to Rs. 10 lakhs. For secretaries and heads of departments the limit is up to Rs. 8 lakhs. Other entitled officers are entitled to cost up to Rs. 7 lakhs and field officers below the rank of joint director are entitled cost limit up to Rs. 6 lakhs. 

The notification further said that the normal lifespan of government vehicles for the purpose of condemnation has been raised to 10 years from 8 years unless there are special reasons to condemn the vehicle. “There will be no need to produce tax clearance and police reports provided the head of department concerned produced a statement clarifying that there is n outstanding tax or bills and no police case pending against the vehicle proposal for condemnation,” the Transport department said.