Sikkim CM cuts motorcade by 50 per cent
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Thursday announced cutting the number of vehicles in his motorcade by 50 per cent following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to curb the use of petrol and diesel.
In a social media post, he said the other austerity measures include withdrawal of pilot vehicles assigned to the Assembly speaker and deputy speaker, a 20 per cent cut in fuel consumption in vehicles allotted to ministers and MLAs, and pooled vehicle services in government departments.
“In compliance with the appeal made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for adopting austerity measures, and to demonstrate our commitment towards the national service and responsible governance, I have decided to reduce the number of vehicles in my official carcade by 50 per cent. It will significantly contribute towards fuel conservation,” Tamang said.
The chief minister also shared that he has urged all district collectors and superintendents of police not to undertake protocol duties during his inter-district tours.
He said the decision on austerity measures was taken at an emergency meeting with Cabinet ministers, legislators, the chief secretary, the state police chief, heads of departments, district collectors, and superintendents of police on Thursday.
After detailed deliberations, several temporary measures have been adopted in the larger interest of fuel conservation, administrative efficiency, and national responsibility, the chief minister said. Among other measures, public servants have been urged to use public transportation and rely on virtual meetings and digital coordination.
Tamang said that 50 per cent of government employees should be asked to work from home wherever feasible, suspend foreign travel for one year, and maintain Saturdays and Sundays as non-working days during which government vehicles shall not ply.
Additionally, the odd-even vehicle rule will be implemented across all districts, he said while pointing out that these measures are temporary and aimed at promoting resource conservation.
However, emergency services shall remain exempt from these restrictions.
A detailed notification in this regard will be issued separately by the home department, the chief minister said and appealed to the people of Sikkim to wholeheartedly support and abide by these decisions.
“Let us come together to conserve resources, reduce unnecessary fuel consumption, and set an example of unity and patriotism for the rest of the country,” the chief minister said.
PM Modi recently called for austerity and fuel-saving measures, warning that the ongoing military conflict in West Asia could trigger a crisis “bigger than the global Covid pandemic”.
