Under attack over a proposal to
shut petrol pumps after 8 pm, Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily clarified on Monday that the government is not considering any such move to taper fuel demand.
Shutting petrol pumps from 8 pm to 8 am was an idea mooted ahead of the ministry's plan to launch a massive fuel conservation drive from September 16 to cut fuel demand by 3 per cent and
save an estimated Rs 16,000 crore, or $2.5 billion, in forex outgo.
"We have already made it very clear it is not our idea. It is an idea which is coming from public and others. We have not taken any decision (on those suggestions). No decision will be taken to keep petrol pumps dry in any part of the country," Moily said. "I have not mooted this proposal (to shut petrol pumps) at all."
The oil ministry also issued a press statement saying, "there is no proposal under consideration of the Government to allow sale of petroleum products from the retail outlets (petrol pumps) only during certain hours."
Moily said he wants to make the people aware that the country imports 80 per cent of its oil needs and fuel should be conserved because the country cannot afford to keep shelling out $170 billion year after year.
"We are coming with a mega conservation campaign, which will be launched on September 16. Before that, we are considering ideas about how this can be done. If BJP has some brilliant idea, they are most welcome to send it to us. We will certainly consider it," he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had attacked the proposal saying it was tantamount to imposing economic emergency on the people.
"We are toying with the ideas (on conserving fuel) that have come to us. That doesn't mean we have accepted them or are enforcing shutdowns," Moily said.
The petroleum minister had last week said the oil ministry has worked out a plan to save $22 billion in the oil import bill. Though he did not divulge details ministry, sources told IANS that the plan involved oil imports from Iran, which can be paid for in rupees thereby saving precious forex outgo.
Meanwhile, commenting on the the oil minister's reported proposal, BJP MP Yashwant Sinha had said: "The country's present situation can be termed as an economic emergency, doing this will only worsen it."
Criticising the proposal, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta had also said: "It's like a curfew, we are heading towards economic emergency, the government must get petrol from Iran."
With inputs from agencies
PHOTO: Reuters 
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