The Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister, M Veerappa Moily, while stating that there may not be any diesel price hike at the moment, also hinted that the Ministry may consider allowing State Transport Undertakings (STUs) to purchase diesel at the subsidised price to encourage public transport. But, this would be subject to their active cooperation in the Petroleum Conservation Mega Campaign of his Ministry, Moily said.
Moily was speaking at a conference to outline details of Petroleum Conservation Mega Campaign of the Ministry. He said that fuel is more costly due to higher statutory duties, and his Ministry will take up the issue with Ministry of Finance so that the duty structure is rationalised which will promote their mass consumption.
Despite the revenue loss incurred by the public sector oil marketing companies on diesel being at Rs 14.50 a litre for the second fortnight of September, the Government is treading cautiously on diesel pricing, as any change has a political fall out.
At present, the State Transport Undertakings are purchasing diesel at market driven prices without any subsidy. But, the Petroleum Ministry has received representation from various states as well as the oil marketing companies that the dual pricing mechanism is not working.
The STU bus fleets are taking fuel from retail outlets (ROs) causing hindrance in the smooth functioning of ROs and in the process wasting fuel, the Minister said.
The Minister also said that he has taken up with the Ministries of Power; Road, Transport & Highways; Urban Development; and Agriculture Minister to support the mega campaign.
To be launched from October 1, the campaign will be on for a period of six weeks throughout the country. Activities will include direct interaction with consumers to encourage them in adopting conservation measures. At the same time the TV, print and electronic media will be used to generate awareness. The total funds allocated for this campaign is over Rs 45 crore to be shared by six oil PSUs and the Petroleum Conservation Research Association budget.
Moily said that his Ministry has already initiated key steps such as supply of diesel at market driven price to bulk consumers, capping the number of cooking gas cylinders, eliminating ghost consumers of LPG cylinders, rationalisation of kerosene quota for States etc. and these are showing results.
But, with under recoveries (loss incurred by oil marketing companies for selling diesel, domestic LPG and PDS kerosene at controlled price) mounting due to the depreciation of the rupee and hardening of crude prices, we cannot be complacent, the Minister said, adding that there is a need to do more to conserve fuel or face tougher choices such as steep price increase or even quantitative restrictions.
Petroleum Conservation Mega Campaign
During this Mega Campaign the Ministry will involve youth icons like Virat Kohli and Saina Nehwal to propagate the message of fuel conservation. It will also communicate fuel saving tips to them through smart phone applications and new media tools.
Simple steps such as proper driving habits; better maintenance of vehicles; use of carpooling for going to offices and schools; switching off engines at traffic lights; appropriate upkeep of heavy duty vehicles and driver training, can minimise the wastage of fuel in the transport sector.
Similarly in the agriculture sector too, proper maintenance and driving of tractors and diesel pumps can help in saving diesel requirements. In the household / domestic sector, LPG is the main cooking fuel for households. The fuel saving tips with better cooking habits will help in considerable saving of LPG gas at our homes.
CMs, Ministers ‘can take’ bus for one day a month
Staggered office timings and declaring a day of a week as ‘bus day’ is Oil Minister Veerappa Moily’s idea of energy conservation. “I have urged all the Chief Ministers, major PSU heads and heads of different central ministries to declare one day of the week as ‘bus day’ during which everyone may be encouraged to utilise only public transport for their daily commute,” he said.
As part of the media campaign, Moily has pitched for ‘staggered office timings’ for Government offices, which will help in decongesting road traffic during peak hours. Moily has written to the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions to consider this.
Moily said that his Ministry had initiated key steps such as supply of diesel at market driven price to bulk consumers, capping the number of cooking gas cylinders, eliminating ‘ghost’ consumers of LPG cylinders, rationalisation of kerosene quota for States etc. and these were showing results.
“But, with under recoveries (loss incurred by oil marketing companies for selling diesel, domestic LPG and PDS kerosene at controlled price) mounting due to the depreciation of the rupee and hardening of crude prices, we cannot be complacent,” the Minister said. During this Mega Campaign, the Ministry will involve youth icons like Virat Kohli and Saina Nehwal to propagate the message of fuel conservation. It will also communicate fuel saving tips through smart phone applications and new media tools.
Simple steps such as proper driving habits; better maintenance of vehicles; use of carpooling for going to offices and schools; switching off engines at traffic lights; appropriate upkeep of heavy duty vehicles and driver training, can minimise the wastage of fuel in the transport sector.
Similarly in the agriculture sector too, proper maintenance and driving of tractors and diesel pumps can help in save diesel. At homes, better cooking habits will help in considerable saving of LPG gas.