MKCG registrar pedals to work

Berhampur: Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s public appeal to save fuel, a senior bureaucrat in Ganjam district is using a bicycle to travel to his office, instead of his car, even as some pumps have limited Rs 200 worth of petrol per two-wheeler.“Earlier, I drove my car to office. Now, I ride a bicycle to reach office,” said Sweta Kumar Dash, registrar of MKCG Medical College and Hospital, here. Some postgraduate students and other officials have also taken to riding bicycles, instead of cars and motorbikes after seeing him cycling.Though there was no official order to ride bicycles, some postgraduate students and officers following him considered it their responsibility to save fuel in this crisis, said Dash. He said a huge number of people arrive at the medical college and hospital on motorbikes and scooters every day.“We think medical staff and others who come to the medical college and hospital will use bicycles instead of motorcycles to save fuel,” he said. This will also help cut air pollution in the area, he added.Meanwhile, the silk city is facing a sudden and acute fuel shortage of both petrol and diesel. Several commuters and transport operators are facing brunt of the shortage. Long queues have become a common sight at the few functional fuel pumps.Of 20 filling stations in Berhampur, three have suspended operations. “The oil companies are supplying limited fuel even though we pay in advance. That’s why we applied restrictions on sale,” said an owner of a filling station, preferring anonymity.Sanjay Kumar Mallick, assistant civil supply officer (ACSO), Berhampur, said they have reviewed the situation. “On Thursday, the situation is normal and we have not received any complaints about fuel pumps running dry,” he added.