Cut down on expenditure, Karnataka CM tells officials

BENGALURU: Embarking on an austerity drive,days after the JDS-Congress government announced waiver of loans taken by farmers, Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday asked officials to reduce extraneous expenses.
"He (chief minister) has instructed the officials to cut down on unnecessary expenditure, if any, in the state administration," said a statement from the chief ministers office in Bengaluru.

Kumaraswamy also told the officers to review proposals on buying new vehicles and discourage renovation of government offices and residences.

The chief minister had on May 30 said saving farmers is his government's priority and promised to honour his pre-poll assurance to waive farm loans within 15 days of coming to power.