Bhubaneswar: Asserting that Odisha has adequate stock of petrol and diesel, the Odisha government on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advice to the people to reduce fuel use should not be misinterpreted.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra assured the public that petrol and diesel stocks are sufficiently available in the state to meet consumer demand.
Similarly, the supply of domestic LPG across the state remains completely normal, he said.
The government has not put any restriction on the purchase of petrol and diesel and all fuel outlets in the state are operating normally with adequate supplies, the Minister said, adding that Modi simply advised people to save fuel voluntarily and there is no ban or ceiling on purchase.
Stating that the Prime Minister has advised the people to go for prudent use of petrol and diesel in view of the West Asia crisis, Patra said Modi’s appeal is aimed at reducing burden on common people. It does not mean shortage of fuel in the country, he said.
Notably, PM Modi has urged people to save fuel and reduce the use of foreign products to save foreign exchange amid West Asia crisis.
Modi reiterated his earlier appeal to revive Covid-era methods such as work from home, online classes, virtual meetings and reduced consumption of petrol and diesel.
Stressing the need for collective efforts to reduce imports and help the country navigate the crisis, Prime Minister said there is a need for all of us to come together and fulfil our responsibility to reduce the burden on the country’s resources.
He said that India spends lakhs of crores of rupees in foreign exchange to import many products from abroad and the crisis has led to a steep rise in imported goods and severely disrupted global supply chains.
Stating that the government is working to ensure the impact of the crisis on Indians is minimal, Modi said said until things return to normal, every small and meaningful step is needed to contribute to the nation’s interest.
He further repeated his appeal to cut down on petrol and diesel consumption by adopting public transport, electric buses, and carpooling.
PM Modi also came out with an appeal to avoid buying gold until the situation returns to normal.
