Secretaries asked to prioritise Odisha CM’s directive, budget spending and plan

Bhubaneswar: Chief secretary Anu Garg on Thursday chaired a meeting of department secretaries to fast-track implementation of the 15-point directive issued by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Jan 1, a day after she took charge as the state’s top bureaucrat.Speaking to media persons after the high-level review at Kharavela Bhawan, Garg said the discussions centred on the CM’s priorities, utilisation of the current year’s budget and planning for the next financial year.Garg announced that secretary-level meetings will now be held twice a month — on the 1st and 15th of every month — to ensure tighter monitoring. The meeting reviewed expenditure positions of all departments, with the chief secretary stressing the need to accelerate spending and strengthen revenue mobilisation to support infrastructure development. Inter- and intra-departmental issues, repeal of obsolete Acts for ease of doing business, proposals for the next cabinet meeting and preparations for the upcoming budget were also taken up. “Pending mega drinking water projects must be prioritised due to rising public resentment over delays,” Garg added.A fixed calendar was also set for other reviews: video conferences with district collectors will be held on the 16th of every month, with the next one scheduled on Friday as an exception because she would travel to West Bengal for an investors’ meet, while the Single Window Clearance Authority will meet every third Tuesday to fast-track investment proposals. The review showed that the state spent around 50% of the 2025–26 budget so far and departments were directed to utilise the remaining half during the Jan–March quarter.The 15-point agenda unveiled by the CM has set the tone for the govt’s renewed administrative drive. Linked to the broader goals of Odisha Vision 2036 and 2047, the directive urges a stronger push for knowledge-based sectors, quicker approvals for industries and a strict crackdown on corruption. It also seeks to fill all vacant posts within two years, post capable officers in critical roles and mandate the exclusive use of Odia for all official communication. The CM has additionally instructed that corrupt or underperforming officials face tough measures, including compulsory retirement, under Article 311 of the Constitution and the Odisha Service Rules.