Petroleum Minister defends govt in Lok Sabha over fuel price hike
New Delhi(PTI): Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday defended the government over the hike in fuel prices in the country, saying it is due to the increase in prices in the international market.
He, however, assured that efforts are being made to make fuel available to people at "affordable prices".
Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, the minister said the prices of LNG in the international market has gone up by "more than 37 per cent" if compared from from April 2021 to February 2022, because of "an unsettled condition and military action in one part of the world following the Covid crisis".
"Whereas, our increase at the bunk has been only five per cent," he told the House during Question Hour.
As far as the LPG price, which are based on Saudi CP (Contract Price), is concerned, it has has gone up by 285 per cent from April 2020 to March 2022, and the hike has been 37 percent the the last six months alone, he said.
"So, I just want to place these facts before the members and this August House, so that they understand what the international situation today is," he said.
In spite of all that, the government is making "every effort to make sure that the consumer at the point of consumption get fuel at an affordable price", he added.
He said the it has always been government's endeavour to make available CNG at "good affordable price" to consumers.
"But, there is no reduction in taxes," Congress member Shashi Tharoor pointed out as he rose to ask a question soon after Puri answered the question of a BJP member.
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2 days' WFH for govt offices, Metro use by ministers: Delhi CM's call for fuel conservation
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday announced a slew of measures including two days of 'work from home' (WFH) for government offices, use of Metro trains on Mondays by ministers and officers, and a voluntary 'no-vehicle day' every week.
Gupta said in a press conference attended by her Cabinet colleagues that the government has drawn an extensive plan under "Mera Bharat, Mera Yogdan" to implement the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for saving fuel and wise expenditure.
She said all Delhi government offices will follow WFH two days a week. The private sector will also be requested to follow it, she said.
Gupta said all ministers, officers and she herself will use Metro for commuting on Mondays while people will be requested to observe 'no-vehicle day' every week.
The government has also decided to cancel all official foreign visits by ministers for one year while no big events will be hosted by it for the next three months, she said.
The chief minister said petrol and diesel quotas of the Delhi government officers have also been slashed by 20 per cent.
Earlier, Gupta headed a meeting with all her Cabinet ministers and senior officers of the government to discuss ways to save fuel and other resources amid global uncertainty over crude oil and gas supplies.
The chief minister has also cut down on her carcade by 60 per cent, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to people to spend wisely and save fuel in view of the war in West Asia.
The chief minister's convoy now has only four vehicles, including two EVs.
