PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
In a move aimed at implementing the austerity appeal made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Uttarakhand government has decided to introduce the concept of no vehicle day in the State. The State government will also promote work from home culture and limit the foreign tour of the government officers. Decisions in this regard were taken in the meeting of the State cabinet chaired by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday.
In the meeting, the cabinet decided that the number of vehicles in the fleet of CM and ministers will be reduced to half. It was also decided that no vehicle day will be observed once a week. It was decided to promote video conferencing-based meetings in government departments. Work from home will also be encouraged in the private sector. People will also be encouraged to maximise the use of public transportation.
The general public will also be encouraged to observe no vehicle day once a week. Efforts will be made to limit the use of AC in government and private buildings. The cabinet directed the Transport department to increase the service and capacity of public transport. It was also decided that the government employees will be encouraged to use public transportation and the officers heading more than one department will be allowed to use a maximum of one vehicle per day.
The cabinet also gave its nod to introduce an effective Electric Vehicle (EV) policy under which it would be mandatory that 50 per cent of the new government vehicles purchased will be EVs.
The campaign to promote domestic tourism will be launched in which extensive promotion will be given to the heritage, religious, wellness, rural and eco-tourism circuits in the State. The cabinet also decided that the destination weddings will be encouraged in the State and the people will be made aware to limit the purchase of gold for one year.
The cabinet decided that awareness campaigns will be launched to educate the public about the health benefits of low-oil diets and hotels, Dhabas and street food vendors will be encouraged to adopt low on oil menus.
The farmers will be trained in natural farming and they will be made aware in the balanced use of fertilizers and soil health.
The Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and rooftop solar plants will be promoted.
In the meeting, CM Dhami said that in view of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the ongoing crisis in West Asia PM Modi has appealed to citizens to support national efforts through small behavioural changes, which are expected to have a positive impact on the general public. He said that many short-term and long-term reforms are being implemented in Uttarakhand with immediate effect.
