SAKSHAM 2023 for fuel conservation launched in Nagaland

DIMAPUR — Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav (SAKSHAM) 2023 for Nagaland, a two-week campaign to sensitise citizens on fuel conservation for health and environmental protection, was launched by Director of Food & Civil Supplies (F&CS), Lovitoly Sema, on Monday at Faith Services, Indian Oil Retail Outlet, Chümoukedima.

Addressing the inaugural programme of the campaign, the F&CS director said the awareness campaign is the need of the hour and is very much necessary to propagate energy security for sustainable development and environment protection, which will ultimately lead to economic growth of the country.

Citing that India is the third highest energy consumer after China and the USA, Sema however said the country is hugely dependent on import of energy from outside as fuel production in India is very low compared to the country’s need.

She also said that there is huge deficit of oil in the country compared to the consumption pattern and hence the urgent need to find out ways and means to conserve energy for sustainability.

Sema further requested the organisers to reach out to the masses and different categories of people during the campaign.

H Thangzamuan, manager of LPG sales, IOC, and state level coordinator, OMC, informed that SAKSHAM is an annual flagship event of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) to sensitise citizens about the need of fuel conservation for health and environmental protection, as well as to help India reduce its reliance on crude oil imports.

He explained that due to dissolution of PCRA, it has been proposed that IOCL will conduct SAKSHAM activities from 2023 onwards. This year SAKSHAM will be held from April 24 to May 8 on the theme ‘Energy Conservation towards Net Zero.’

Thangzamuan shared that the idea of the campaign is to convince consumers to switch to cleaner fuels and bring in behavioural change to use fossil fuel intelligently.

During this country-wide campaign, the organisers will reach out to various mass segments with various fuel conservation activities to propagate awareness about the importance, benefits and methods of fuel conservation, and also to promote adoption of fuel efficient technologies and practices, he informed.

He updated that the various activities planned during the campaign includes campaigns on fuel conservation in schools, colleges, public places, fuel efficient driving contests, Saksham Cyclothon at 200 identified cities, walkathon, promoting efficient and safe use of LPG, group talk at retail outlets and CNG stations, conducting e-vehicle rally in some selected cities and campaign for farmers.

DP Vidyarthi, CGM (LPG) Indian Oil AODSO, Guwahati, said India is the third largest energy consumer in the world and that the country’s energy demand, which is projected to double by 2040, is ever increasing.

Stating that the country is heavily dependent on import of crude oil, Vidyarthi underscored that conservation of petroleum resources is the first step towards sustainable development of our country. He further stressed on the need for each and every petroleum consuming citizen of the country to conserve petroleum and to use alternative renewable and green energy.

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