LUCKNOW: Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for austerity and reduced fuel consumption, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday ordered an immediate 50% reduction in the official vehicle fleets of the chief minister, ministers and senior bureaucrats, while calling for a broader public movement towards energy conservation and restrained consumption.Chairing a high-level meeting attended by the Chief Secretary, DGP, Additional Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries, the Chief minister directed that unnecessary vehicles be removed from official convoys and urged ministers, MPs, MLAs and other public representatives to use public transport at least once a week.Yogi also proposed a weekly “No Vehicle Day” and said govt employees, students and citizens from all sections of society should be associated with the campaign.Emphasising the need for austerity amid global uncertainty, the Chief minister said the state must be prepared to effectively implement the Prime Minister’s appeal. He advocated greater use of work-from-home arrangements, PNG, Metro rail services, public transport and UPSRTC buses to cut fuel consumption.“Official meetings, seminars, conferences and workshops should be conducted virtually as far as possible,” he said, directing that 50% of internal meetings in the State Secretariat and directorates be held online.The Industrial Development Department and IIDC were instructed to encourage industries and start-ups to adopt work-from-home systems. In workplaces with large employee strength, the govt may issue an advisory recommending work-from-home for two days a week.The Chief minister also suggested staggered office timings to ease peak-hour fuel consumption and stressed the promotion of cycling, car-pooling and electric vehicles. In cities with Metro connectivity, he said, commuters should make maximum use of the services, while bus services should be expanded on high-demand routes.Calling for electricity conservation, Yogi directed that unnecessary power usage in govt offices, homes and commercial establishments be avoided. Decorative lighting in malls, hotels and private establishments should be curtailed after 10 pm, he said.He further urged people to avoid non-essential foreign travel for the next six months and encouraged citizens to organise weddings and events within the country. Promoting Uttar Pradesh as a destination wedding hub, the Chief minister highlighted the state’s heritage sites, forts and eco-tourism destinations.To boost domestic tourism, he announced a “Visit My State” campaign focusing on wellness, eco, rural, wildlife and cuisine tourism. Museums and memorials may also be opened free of cost for a limited period, he said.The tourism department was directed to coordinate with hotels, airlines, travel agents and tour operators for implementation of the campaign. Yogi also called for encouraging NRIs from Uttar Pradesh to visit the state and promoting heritage tours, temple tourism and visits to gau-shalas.The Chief minister stressed the use of products made by local artisans, self-help groups and entrepreneurs, and said ODOP and GI-tagged products should be promoted as official gifts during festivals, weddings and other events.In another major appeal, Yogi asked people to reduce edible oil consumption and directed the Health Department to launch nutrition awareness campaigns across schools, colleges, hospitals, jails, hostels and govt canteens.The Agriculture Department was asked to promote natural farming, while the administration was directed to engage with jewellers’ associations and traders as the Chief minister urged citizens to avoid unnecessary gold purchases.Yogi also instructed officials to expand the PNG network in mission mode and intensify awareness about rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
