Lucknow,

13 May (HS): A day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called

for austerity measures, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak announced on

Wednesday that the number of vehicles in his official fleet would be cut in

half in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for fuel conservation

and economic restraint. Pathak said in a statement published here that the

decision was made in the national interest and in accordance with the prime

minister's request for austerity measures in daily life. The national interest

is vital. Nothing is above it, the deputy chief minister stated, asking staff

to immediately cut the number of cars escorting his convoy by 50%.

Pathak

added that the prime minister had advised people to prioritize work-from-home

whenever possible, avoid buying gold for a year, reduce petrol and diesel

consumption by using metro services and public transit, and restrict their use

of private autos. He also asked people to reduce their consumption of edible

oil, decrease their use of chemical fertilizers in half, and practice natural

farming methods. The deputy chief minister also called for greater adoption of

indigenous products over multinational brands and urged people to reduce their

overseas excursions in the next year to save foreign currency spent on oil

imports.

Pathak

stated that ecologically friendly behaviors such as carpooling once a week,

adopting battery-powered automobiles, using induction cooktops instead of gas

stoves, and installing rooftop solar panels might considerably contribute to

national welfare. Adityanath authorized an immediate 50% decrease in official

convoys across the state on Tuesday, urging greater use of public

transportation, virtual meetings, and work-from-home arrangements as part of a

larger austerity campaign.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi