Bhubaneswar: In an effort to enhance efficiency and transparency, the Odisha government has modified the financial powers of the Chief Minister and other Ministers.
The financial powers of secretaries and heads of departments have also been modified through amendments made to Delegation of Financial Power Rules, 1978, sources said.
As per the amendments, the Chief Minister can approve and sanction up to Rs 100 crore each for expenditure on goods, consultancy and outsourcing services. Approval for expenditure involving more than Rs 100 crore will have to be granted by the state Cabinet headed by the Chief Minister.
Similarly, a Minister of an administrative department will have the power of approval and sanction of expenditure on goods up to Rs 50 crore, and consultancy and outsourcing services up to Rs 10 crore each.
The secretary of a department will have the power of approval and sanction of expenditure on goods up to Rs 20 crore, consultancy and outsourcing services up to Rs 3 crore each while the head of a department can sanction expenditure on goods up to Rs 10 crore and consultancy and outsourcing services up to Rs 1 crore each.
As per an official memorandum issued by the Finance department, the recommendation of department-level procurement committee will be required if any administrative department goes for procurement of goods (above Rs 25 lakh and below Rs 10 crore), procurement of consultancy services (above Rs 5 lakh and below Rs 1 crore) and outsourcing of services (above Rs 5 lakh and below Rs 1 crore) at the department level.
Preferences, relaxations, concessions and special dispensations in purchase of goods from local micro and small enterprises will be regulated as per guidelines issued by MSME department from time to time.
The recommendation of department-level or HoD-level procurement committee is not required for procurement of goods up to Rs 25 lakh, procurement of consultancy services up to Rs 5 lakh and outsourcing services up to Rs 5 lakh at administrative department level or head of department level.
In such cases, procurement can be done with the approval of the secretary of the department or head of department concerned or of any other competent authority, as the case may be, according to the memorandum.
