In a major step towards ensuring transparency and efficiency, the Himachal government has directed all the departments to make payments, exceeding Rs 10,000, to contractors through core banking and credit salaries of the employees directly into their bank accounts.

The directions were given by Chief Minister P K Dhumal while addressing the secretaries and heads of departments on August 19 and the Finance department issued instructions within four days, an official spokesperson said in Shimla.

The notification issued by the Finance Department stated that all Secretaries, Heads of Departments would henceforth make all payments of Rs 10,000 or above pertaining to contracts or purchase of goods or services by core banking to contractors, suppliers and individuals.

Further, payments to regular, contract, daily wage employees shall also be directly released by crediting to their bank accounts and in future no payment would be made in cash.

To ensure that all works in the offices are done in a time bound manner, Deputy Commissioners have been made responsible for time-bound delivery of services like registration of vehicles and issue of licences and keeping strict vigil on revenue officers responsible for mutation, partition cases and registration of documents.

All the departments have been directed to see that procurement was done quarterly, half yearly and yearly on the basis of requirements and the departments having huge stores should computerise the inventory.