New Delhi: The day-to-day functioning of Army officers to attend courses or crucial meetings may be hit due to cash crunch for meeting travel and accommodation expenses. Nearly Rs 4,000 crore is spent every year on these purposes.
An order issued on Monday by Principal Controller of Defence Accounts, Pune said due to insufficient funds available under Temporary Duty and Permanent Duty heads of Army officers, no TA/DA advances and claims can be processed till receipt of sufficient funds under the relevant heads. However, the facility for Leave Travel Concession (LTC) will continue.
Explaining the implications of the order, officials said here at any given time more than 1,000 officers move to and fro on temporary duty. Earlier, while proceeding they could withdraw in advance more than 60 to 70 per cent of the likely total expenses and later submit the bills. That facility was withdrawn sometime back.
Earlier, officers used to travel on their own and later claim allowances. The latest order has put a stop to this as well.
Moreover, this order has come months after the Army officers were asked to avoid staying in hotels and instead lodge at Army guesthouses while on temporary duty or official visits. Officers (according to their ranks) are entitled to stay in three-star hotels and also five-star hotels. The directive to refrain from doing so was issued to bring down the expenses.
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Ms Kalinga