Calcutta, June 11: The government today announced a slew of austerity measures to make up for the revenue loss because of last week’s sales tax cuts on fuel.

All but two of the measures had also been announced in 2000 and 2002 when the state was facing a financial crisis.

The new ones announced by finance minister Asim Dasgupta were the bar on furnishing offices and deployment of police and home-guards at officers’ homes.

A day after the oil prices were hiked, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked all central ministers and departments to cut down expenditure.

Dasgupta said the state drive will help the government save Rs 500 crore. “In the wake of the recent price hike the state government has cut sales tax to give relief to the common people and this will result in a substantial loss of revenue. So it is important we cut down our expenditure,” he added.

The measures recommended are:

• Restriction on fuel consumption: 8 litres a day for emergency vehicles like police jeeps and ambulance; 5l a day for officials

• Bar on hiring cars without finance department approval; restriction on use of vehicles on holidays

• Chief secretary’s permission must for trips

• Expenses on conferences, seminars and workshops to be cut

• Bar on furnishing offices

• Home-guards or police personnel not to be posted in officers’ homes without chief secretary’s approval

• No vehicles to be purchased

• Re-employment to be restricted

• Restriction on purchase of equipment or machine in February or March of any year

“All these measures will come into effect from today,” Dasgupta said at Writers’ Buildings.