Guwahati : The Government of Assam has announced a series of austerity measures, including a 20 per cent reduction in fuel expenditure and a 10 per cent cut in departmental spending, amid concerns arising from the ongoing crisis in West Asia.

The measures were issued through an executive order titled “Advisory on Austerity Measures” by Finance Commissioner and Secretary Jayant Narlikar on Monday. Under the directive, all government departments and district administrations have been instructed to reduce revenue and establishment expenditure by 10 per cent during the current financial year.

However, expenditures related to salaries, pensions, debt repayment and charged expenditure have been exempted from the cuts. The order also mandated a 20 per cent reduction in spending on Petrol, Oil and Lubricants (POL) during the financial year.

“In the interest of administrative propriety and in view of the national appeal arising from the prevailing crisis in West Asia, the government considers it necessary to enforce additional measures of fiscal prudence and economy,” the order stated.

As part of the government’s green mobility initiative, departments have been directed to prioritise electric vehicles while hiring vehicles for official use. The government has also encouraged the use of public transport, carpooling and electric vehicles to reduce fuel consumption.

According to the order, the Transport Department will separately issue notifications regarding incentives for electric vehicle purchases and the expansion of EV charging infrastructure across the state.

The Department of Housing and Urban Affairs has been directed to begin transitioning municipal public transport systems towards non-fossil fuel alternatives over the next 12 months.

The Guwahati Municipal Corporation has also been tasked with gradually moving towards a fully green public transport system. The government further instructed departments to enhance revenue generation and conduct energy audits to minimise electricity wastage.

Municipal bodies have been asked to reduce unnecessary power consumption, including the wasteful use of street lighting.

The order stated that the prevailing situation requires “heightened administrative readiness and national solidarity”, making strict compliance with the austerity directives necessary until further notice.

The government has also decided to defer foreign visits by ministers and government officials for the next six months, except in cases involving national or strategic interests, education, medical emergencies or visits to immediate family members residing abroad.

Such visits will require prior approval from Himanta Biswa Sarma.Additionally, all departments have been instructed to route revenue-generating activities exclusively through the Electronic Government Receipt Accounting System platform to strengthen financial monitoring and transparency.