CM leads Bihar’s push to cut fuel use, walks to office

Patna: CM Samrat Choudhary on Friday walked about 500 metres from his official residence, Lok Sewak Awas, to the chief minister’s secretariat at 4, Deshratna Marg, accompanied by senior officials. The move came in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce fuel consumption and spend more carefully amid the West Asia crisis.

Joining the effort, Panchayati Raj minister Deepak Prakash walked nearly 1km from his official residence to Vikas Bhawan. He said, inspired by the call of PM Modi and CM Samrat Choudhary, officials and employees of the Panchayati Raj department have been urged to travel to office every Friday by public transport, bicycle, electric vehicle or on foot instead of using private vehicles.

Prakash also appealed to the public to support the campaign and participate in efforts to tackle the global fuel crisis.

State education minister Mithilesh Tiwary also adopted an alternative mode of transport, taking an e-rickshaw from his official residence to office. He said eco-friendly measures were necessary to reduce daily fuel use.

Earlier, Choudhary had ordered a reduction in the size of his cavalcade, a step later followed by cabinet colleagues. He had also announced that the state govt was considering several measures to curb fuel consumption, including promoting work-from-home and observing a weekly “no vehicle day”.

To reduce travel needs, all state govt departments have been directed to conduct meetings through videoconferencing. Choudhary had also said instructions were issued to cut down the use of palm oil in canteens at govt offices.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on May 10, had urged citizens to use fuel judiciously, postpone gold purchases and avoid unnecessary foreign travel. He said such steps were needed to strengthen the economy and protect people from the adverse effects of the conflict in West Asia.