Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
In the wake of rising crude oil prices due to the US-Iran war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to citizens to reduce the consumption of petrol and diesel. Responding to the appeal, city Mayor Sameer Rajurkar on Monday urged office-bearers, corporators and officials of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC) to use vehicles only for essential work.
The municipal corporation currently has a fleet of 246 vehicles. Official vehicles have been allotted to the mayor, deputy mayor and leader of the opposition. Vehicles for the chairpersons of committees and the leader of the house have been hired on contract at a monthly cost of Rs 90,000 each, excluding GST.
In addition, 35 senior and key officials heading various departments have been provided with four-wheelers, including seven electric vehicles (EVs). Another 208 four-wheelers are used for the civic body’s routine operations.
The civic administration spends nearly Rs 70 lakh to Rs 75 lakh every month on fuel for these vehicles, with the annual expenditure exceeding Rs 8 crore. Against this backdrop, the Prime Minister on Sunday appealed to the nation to minimise fuel consumption and promote work-from-home practices wherever possible.
When asked whether the municipal corporation would act on the Prime Minister’s appeal, the mayor said he personally uses official vehicles only for essential work and avoids unnecessary travel.
“All office-bearers, officials and corporators of the municipal corporation will certainly make efforts towards fuel conservation. Public transport should be used as much as possible, and unnecessary use of vehicles should be avoided,” he said.