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 bureaucrats, while calling for a broader public movement by reducing fuel consumption, work from home for at least two days a week and avoiding purchase of gold.Chairing a high-level meeting attended by the chief secretary, DGP, and senior officials of various departments, the CM 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 CM said the state should 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.He instructed the industrial development department and IIDC 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,” he said.The CM 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 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 CM highlighted the state’s heritage sites, forts and eco-tourism destinations.Yogi appealed to the 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 CM said that people should avoid unnecessary gold purchases. “The administration should hold meetings with local jewellers’ associations and traders to address their concerns,” he added.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 ‘gaushalas’.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.The agriculture department was asked to promote natural farming.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.
