India to Cut Out All Wasteful Expenses duo to High Oil Price

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday called for the government officials to take measures cutting all the wasteful expenses, especially on foreign travel because of the rising oil price.

The prime Minister said that currently a huge burden imposed on India's financial resources due to the continuous rising trend in global oil prices.

I am, therefore, writing to ask you to severely curtail expenditure on air travel, particularly foreign travel, except in cases where it is deemed to be absolutely necessary, he noted.

In a letter to his ministerial colleagues, Singh said that while we need to explain to the people the constraints and reasons that have compelled the government to introduce these measures to hike petrol product prices.

He said it could not be denied that there was substantial scope for reducing expenditure on travel and administration.

As we ask the people to bear some of the financial burden of our oil imports, it is not only necessary from the resource conservation point of view but also as a moral duty to cut out all wasteful expenditure in our own establishments, Singh said.

Singh also told his ministerial colleagues the best prudence can be exercised at your own level with regard to both foreign travel and local travel for you and your officers.

As we initiate steps to meet this resource crunch, it is inevitable that some of the burden would have to be borne by the public, Singh said, adding I seek your fullest cooperation in this matter of importance and urgency.

The Indian government decided to hike fuel prices for 8 percent on Wednesday.

Source: CRIEnglish