CHENNAI:In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to citizens’ to avoid using petrol or diesel one day in a week, petroleum dealers association has announced that a majority of petrol outlets in the State will remain closed on all Sundays, effective from May 14.
Addressing reporters on Tuesday, K P Murali, president, Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Association, said fuel outlets directly operated by oil marketing corporations and those run by private operators like Reliance and Essar will not close their pumps on Sunday.
He recalled the Prime Minister’s statement in his regular radio talk ‘Mann Ki Baat’. In his address to the nation last month, Modi had said if every citizen resolved that he would not use petrol or diesel one day in a week, it would contribute to a ‘New India’.
Murali said the Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD), which their association is part of, had agreed upon Modi’s suggestion. Based on CIPD’s resolution, we have decided to shut petrol and diesel bunks on all Sundays from May 14. This move will help in lowering the carbon footprint and lead to a greener environment, he said.
Murali estimated that fuel worth Rs 56,000 crore is being consumed in the State annually.
“If sale is avoided for one day every week, it would lead to saving fuel worth Rs 153 crore on that day.”
The decision will be applicable to the 4850 fuel stations located across the State and neighbouring Puducherry.