Amidst a storm over proposal to shut petrol pumps during night to taper fuel demand, Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily today said the government had not made any such proposal and the idea had come from public.
"It is not our idea. It is an idea which is coming from public and others. No decision has been taken to keep petrol pumps dry during any part of the day," he told reporters. His ministry plans to launch a massive fuel conservation drive from September 16 to cut fuel demand by 3 per cent and save an estimated Rs 16,000 crore or USD 2.5 billion in forex outgo.
"We are toying with the ideas (on conserving fuel) that have come to us. That doesn't mean we have accepted them or are enforcing shutdowns," he said. Moily said before the planned launch of September 16 campaign, several proposals to save cut fuel consumptions have come to the government and as per usual practice are being mulled over by his ministry. "It is incorrect to say that any decision on shutting petrol pumps has been taken," he added.