Shimla, April 18 (IANS) Days after the salary cuts of the lawmakers, comprising Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, now 30 per cent pay cut has been made temporarily for senior government officials, including the Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta and the Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Tiwari, on Sunday.

The Congress government has taken a major decision to address financial crisis in the hill state.

The state government has issued an order temporarily suspending a portion of the salaries of senior officials for the next six months.

According to a notification issued by Finance Department Secretary Ashish Singhmar, a monthly amount of Rs 1.10 lakh of the Chief Secretary’s salary, Rs 1.05 lakh of the Additional Chief Secretary’s salary, Rs 97,500 of the Principal Secretary’s and Rs 60,000 of the Secretary’s salary will be suspended for six months.

This arrangement will be effective from the April salary, which will be received in May.

According to the state government notification, this step has been taken to address the state’s weak economic situation and strengthen financial management.

The state government has also directed boards, corporations, universities and grant-receiving institutions to implement this decision.

The state government has clarified that this move is temporary and part of a collective effort to improve the state’s financial situation.

According to a notification, department heads promoted from the Himachal Administrative Service rank receive a monthly salary of Rs 3.10 lakh, while IAS officers receive a salary of around Rs 3 lakh.

The state government has nearly 60 department heads, and around 200 officers will be affected by the temporary salary freeze.

Their salaries will likely be cut by nearly Rs 1 crore per month.

Senior officers like Chief Secretary, the Additional Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary have also been included among the officers whose salaries have been cut by 30 per cent.

–IANS

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