Bangalore, Sep 1: The government is considering various proposals including shutting down petrol pumps overnight from 8 pm to 8 am to check fuel demand as it looks at ways to cut the massive oil import bill, Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily said.
"There are various options and ideas that have been floated. Shutting petrol pumps during the night is one of them. But we have not decided. It is just a proposal," Mr. Moily said.
The Oil Minister said the government is planning many austerity measures and urged people to save fuel by using their vehicles sparingly.
"We need to reduce the consumption, the demand and thus bring down our imports. Otherwise petrol prices will keep going up and rupee will keep falling," Mr. Moily said.
His ministry plans to launch a six-week fuel conservation drive from September 16 to cut demand by three per cent and save an estimated Rs. 16,000 crore in foreign exchange.
Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted sharply to the government's quick-fix solution. Party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, "What is a petrol pump, this government will close the country. Won't the people fill their car fuel tanks in the morning?"
"If the Manmohan Singh government has run out of ideas to tackle the economic mess, it can take suggestions from the BJP," Mr Hussain said.
Comments
Add new comment