The Maharashtra government has announced restrictions on reducing fuel use, cutting unnecessary expenses and promoting energy conservation across the state. In a late-night decision, the state banned motorcycle rallies, vehicle roadshows and all kinds of cavalcades. The government also introduced strict limits on official spending and travel.
Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal signed a 19-circular and directed all department secretaries, divisional commissioners, district collectors, municipal commissioners and government officials to implement the measures immediately.
Under the new directions, the following guidelines have been issued:
1. Government officials have been asked not to plan new foreign visits for official work or study. Approved international tours should also be cancelled to save foreign exchange.
2. Officers should give priority to rented electric vehicles for regular office use. Officials visiting sites for work have also been instructed to use the minimum number of vehicles possible. Officers and staff should use public transport or carpool whenever possible. They have been instructed to use public buses, local trains or metro services at least once every week.
3. The government has asked departments to speed up approvals for electric vehicle charging stations. Pending proposals and new applications for charging infrastructure should be cleared quickly. Authorities have also been told to consider reducing electricity tariffs needed for charging stations. The state government directed departments to speed up the installation of solar energy systems under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar scheme.
4. The circular directed all departments to reduce physical meetings and events. Meetings, seminars, training sessions and official programs should be conducted online as much as possible. Video conferencing systems should be used at ministerial, departmental and district levels whenever required.
5. Colleges and universities have also been told to follow these instructions and organise events online.
6. The police department has been ordered not to allow bike rallies, vehicle processions or fleets of vehicles for any purpose.
7. The state government also asked the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations and other agencies to release only minimum advertisements. Decorative lighting and expensive display technology should be reduced. The use of DG sets for illuminated hoardings has also been discouraged. Flex banners should be used only when necessary.
8. Government offices have been instructed to save electricity. Officials have been told to use natural light during office hours instead of unnecessary lighting. After office hours, lights, fans, computers, air conditioners, lifts and other equipment must be switched off. The circular also said air-conditioning temperatures should be maintained between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius.
9. Canteens, hostels, jails, hospitals, Anganwadis, midday meal centres and police canteens have been asked to reduce the use of edible oil in food preparation. Anganwadi and ASHA workers have been directed to advise families to cut down on edible oil consumption at home. The government also asked departments to promote the use of groundnut and mustard oil instead of palm, soybean and sunflower oils.
10. The circular instructed authorities to clear pending and new applications for PNG connections quickly in order to increase its use on a large scale. Hotels and restaurants in Mumbai and other major cities have also been encouraged to adopt PNG.
11. The government also ordered stricter checks under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala scheme. Departments have been asked to identify duplicate, fake and migrant registrations and cancel them so that eligible beneficiaries can receive the benefits properly.
12. The Agriculture Department has been directed to launch a campaign to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers. The campaign will promote natural and organic fertilisers. Farmers will also be encouraged to register on Agristack for proper fertiliser use. The department has been told to prevent misuse of urea for non-agricultural purposes and carry out soil testing. Crop-wise and region-wise fertiliser structures should also be issued.
13. The circular further said that all administrative departments will avoid hiring advisors for the next six months. The state government instructed all departments and officials for proper implementation of the new directives across Maharashtra.