Change driving habits, Save fuel: Mr Deora

Mumbai, Dec 2: Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora today flagged off a car mileage rally 'Stretch Your Fuel' here to create awareness amongst vehicle owners to conserve precious fuel by changing driving habits.

Speaking at the function, Mr Deora said motive of the rally is to create awareness amongst the 90 lakh vehicle owners in our country that with small changes in driving habits, it is possible to conserve precious fuel which is good individually as well as to the country.

He said the Transport Sector in the country undergone has a phenomenal growth in last two decades, which has witnessed an unknown increase in the vehicular population that has resulted in enormous growth in consumption of petroleum fuels.

The Petroleum Minister said the price of crude oil has been sharply increased from 23.32 dollars per barrel in March 2002 to 100 dollars per barrel in 2007. Country's oil import dependency is about 76 per cent, causing an increase in drain on the foreign exchequer as well as concern of future energy security.

More than 150 vehicles participated in the rally from all section of the society that drove from Mantralaya to Juhu and back stretching a distance pf 65 kms with 10 check points.

Maharashtra Energy Minister Vinay Gore, Additional Secretary Petroleum and Natural Gas S Sunderashan, CMDs of IOCL, HPCL, SCI, GOC, bollywood actor Jackie Shroff and other high profile dignitaries were present at the ocassion.

UNI