Mumbai: In a push for fuel conservation, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rode a motorcycle from his official residence, Varsha, to Vidhan Bhavan on Thursday, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Legislative Council members. BJP leader and minister Ashish Shelar accompanied him.
Late on Wednesday night, Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal issued a 19-point circular outlining austerity measures. Besides directing officials to cancel foreign tours and use public transport at least once a week, the circular stated that police would not grant permission for motorbike rallies, processions or vehicle cavalcades.
The Chief Secretary instructed all departments, divisional commissioners, district collectors and municipal commissioners to enforce measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption, conserving foreign exchange and curbing avoidable expenditure. The circular also directed government officers to prioritise the use of electric vehicles and promote rooftop solar installations under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana.
Officials have been asked to minimise vehicle use during field visits, with preference given to carpooling and public transport for official travel. Officers have also been directed to use the Metro, suburban trains or public buses at least once a week. Government meetings, training programmes and seminars are to be conducted largely through video conferencing, while universities and colleges have also been encouraged to shift such activities online.
Government offices have been directed to maximise the use of natural light and ensure electrical equipment is switched off after office hours, while air-conditioner temperatures must be maintained between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius.
The government will also push for wider adoption of piped natural gas (PNG) for domestic and commercial use, including in hotels and restaurants in major cities. A special drive will be launched to identify and remove duplicate or bogus beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
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