Governor Kavinder Gupta on Tuesday announced a series of measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption at Lok Bhavan, including non-use of the government helicopter, a 50 per cent reduction in his convoy and a ban on the use of official vehicles on Sundays till the West Asia crisis continues.
The move, in line with the national call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is aimed at promoting austerity and reducing fuel consumption.
“Lok Bhavan will now function as a special ‘Fuel Conservation Zone’ and every Sunday will be observed as a ‘Petrol-Free Sunday’, during which no official vehicles will use petrol or diesel,” the Governor said.
He added that official work on Sundays would be conducted through video conferencing or by combining travel plans to minimise fuel consumption.
Gupta also directed that the number of vehicles in his official convoy be reduced by half with immediate effect. He said the decision had been taken to reduce unnecessary fuel use and set an example for government departments to follow.
He further stated that non-essential official meetings would now be conducted online to avoid unnecessary travel. Official programmes and events would also be combined to reduce vehicle movement.
The Governor further announced that he would not use the state government helicopter for official travel until the West Asia crisis ends and fuel prices stabilise again.
“When the country is trying to save fuel, it would not be right to use a mode of transport that consumes a large amount of fuel,” he said.
As Chancellor of all state universities in Himachal Pradesh, Gupta appealed to Vice-Chancellors to immediately initiate fuel and energy-saving measures on campuses. He urged them to encourage teachers, staff and students to adopt carpooling, cycling and the use of public transport.
He especially appealed to students to become ambassadors of the fuel-saving campaign in colleges, hostels and local communities.
“The universities should not only teach conservation but also practise it in daily life. Saving fuel is not only about reducing expenses but also about showing responsibility towards the nation at such a crucial juncture,” he remarked.
The Governor also appealed to people, particularly the youth, to use public transport, share vehicles, walk short distances and use bicycles whenever possible. He said these habits would help save fuel while also improving health.
He encouraged citizens to support the “Vocal for Local” campaign by purchasing local products, handicrafts and Indian-made goods instead of imported items. He also urged people to prefer travelling within India instead of going abroad for holidays.
Gupta said Himachal Pradesh itself was among the finest tourist destinations in the country because of its natural beauty, spiritual sites and adventure tourism opportunities. Choosing domestic tourism, he added, would help strengthen the Indian economy and generate local employment.
The Governor appealed to the youth of Himachal Pradesh to play an active role in nation-building while maintaining discipline and social responsibility.
