Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja has instructed all departments to conduct monthly reviews of their work progress and expenditure to ensure strict alignment with the 2025–26 budget allocations. The directive came during a high-level secretary-level review meeting held on Tuesday at Kharavela Bhavan.
The meeting, convened to assess the state’s financial performance for April 2025, saw the Finance Department presenting key data. According to the report, Odisha registered a 35% rise in overall expenditure compared to the same period last year, with a significant 66% increase in program-related spending.
Chief Secretary Ahuja emphasized the need for real-time tracking of expenditure and project implementation, particularly for new schemes introduced in the current fiscal. He urged departments to maintain fiscal discipline and prioritize outcomes aligned with budgetary goals.
A key highlight of the discussion was the delay in decision-making due to the current structure of file movement under OSWAS (Odisha State Wide Area Network). Currently, files pass through five to six administrative layers before reaching the Secretary level. To address this inefficiency, Ahuja proposed reducing the number of layers to a maximum of three, a move aimed at accelerating government decision-making and service delivery.
Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg informed the gathering that feedback is being collected from departments on this proposed reform, and a final decision will soon be made.
The review also included an assessment of the state’s own tax and non-tax revenue collection and examined the implementation status of new policy proposals. Departments were directed to expedite the finalization of draft policies and operational guidelines for upcoming schemes.
Preparations for state and district-level events to mark the first anniversary of the new government starting June 12 were also discussed in detail.
Among those present in meeting were Additional Chief Secretary of the Home, Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department Satyabrata Sahu; Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department and SRC Deoranjan Kumar Singh; Additional Chief Secretary of General Administration, Public Grievances, Steel, and Mines Department Surendra Kumar; Additional Chief Secretary of Industries, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Department Hemant Sharma; along with Principal Secretaries, Commissioners, and Secretaries from all other departments.
