``The General Administration Department (GAD) has submitted a comprehensive proposal to the Finance Department for purchase of vehicles for the cabinet members. Of course, even if the Finance Department gives green signal to the expensive proposal, the final decision will be taken by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh,'' a senior GAD official told The Indian Express.

In fact, the official said, the GAD needs only 10 to 12 vehicles for the Cabinet members, however, it was felt that all the cabinet members should be allotted the Siennas, while the Ministers of State will be given the existing Contessas. ``If we allot Siennas tosome cabinet members, it will create fresh problems for the GAD,'' the official said.

The official said there are two options before the GAD-- Contessa or Sienna. However, with the changing market conditions, the demand for Contessa, particularly among cabinet members and top bureaucrats, has reduced considerably. ``Hence Sienna was recommended, despite the fact that it costs a little more than the Contessa,'' the official said.

The official said in 1996, when Manohar Joshi was the chief minister, it was decided to replace all the Ambassador cars provided to the Ministers with Contessas. Accordingly, 48 Contessas were purchased for the newly inducted Ministers and the Ambassadors were shifted to regional and district offices.

Significantly, the official said during the last four years, besides the 48 Contessas, no new vehicle was added to the existing fleet of cars in the pool of the GAD neither any of the existing vehicle was scrapped owing to poor performance.

Along with the cabinet members, the GADis also responsible for providing vehicles for the visiting Cabinet members from the Centre as well as other states.

The official confirmed that in the event the Chief Minister finally gives green signal to the proposal, the required amount will have to be drawn from the Contingency Fund, which will have to be approved by the State Legislature during the Winter Session commencing at Nagpur from December 13.

A senior official of the Finance Department said, though Deshmukh as well as Finance Minister Jayant Patil had specifically commented on the financial situation of the state, the Democratic Front government is yet to initiate corrective measures. ``We feel that concrete steps will be taken only after the presentation of the much-awaited white paper on economic situation during the winter session,'' the official said.

The official said while states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, which are also facing severe resource crunch, have launched massive austerity measures to restore economic normalcy, thefront government has so far not shown any inclination to take tough steps to mobilise resources.

``It will be better if cabinet members as well as top bureaucrats take a lead by curtailing their own expenses. At least as of now, neither the cabinet members nor the bureaucrats are in a mood to do so,'' the official pointed out.