RABINARAYAN JENA, OP
Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Anu Garg has directed departmental secretaries to ensure prudent expenditure and effective management of litigation, as the state government is focusing on strengthening its finances and ensuring discipline in public expenditure.
Although several measures have been introduced through the Budget and its size has increased, departments have failed to maintain adequate financial discipline while spending.
The burden of court cases against government departments is also mounting. According to details of a secretary-level meeting held at Kharavela Bhawan October 6, the state’s total expenditure stood at Rs 94,463 crore at the end of September 2026, accounting for 33.4% of the Budget estimate.
Programme expenditure during the period amounted to Rs 58,508 crore, or 31.2% of the Budget estimate, registering a 5.4% increase over the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
Meanwhile, establishment, administrative and other expenditure declined by 4.1%.
Overall expenditure increased by 1.6% year-on-year. Capital expenditure and revenue collection also recorded growth. Capital expenditure stood at Rs 18,183 crore by the end of September, accounting for 25.2% of the Budget estimate.
It registered a significant increase of 25.7% over the corresponding period of the previous financial year. The meeting also reported a 98.9% increase in capital expenditure, though the basis of this figure was not specified.
The state’s total revenue collection stood at Rs 92,047 crore by the end of September, marking a 2.5% increase over the corresponding period of the previous year. Garg said departments must consult the Finance department before taking any decision with financial implications.
She stressed the need to maintain fiscal discipline and warned against taking major policy decisions or making financial provisions for schemes and projects outside the state budget without prior consultation with the Finance department and the Planning and Convergence department.
All departments have been instructed to follow prescribed procedures and adhere to rules.
Departmental financial advisers and assistant financial advisers will be responsible for ensuring compliance.
The Chief Secretary directed them to report any deviation or violation of rules to the Finance Department.
The meeting also discussed a framework proposed by the Law Department to reduce contempt of court cases against government departments.
Garg stressed timely implementation of court orders, the avoidance of unnecessary delays in litigation and strict compliance with judicial directions.
