Govt not considering shutting petrol pumps at night: Moily

Under attack over a proposal to shut petrol pumps at night, Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily today said the government is not considering any such move to taper fuel demand.

'We have already made it very clear it is not our idea. It is an idea which is coming from public and others. We have not taken any decision (on those suggestions). No decision will be taken to keep petrol pumps dry in any part of the country,' he told reporters here.

Shutting petrol pumps from 8 pm to 8 am was an idea mooted ahead of the ministry's plan to launch a massive fuel conservation drive from September 16 to cut fuel demand by 3% and save an estimated Rs 16,000 crore or $2.5 billion in forex outgo.

'I have not mooted this proposal (to shut petrol pumps) at all,' he said.

The Oil Ministry also issued a press statement saying, 'There is no proposal under consideration of the Government to allow sale of petroleum products from the retail outlets (petrol pumps) only during certain hours.'

Moily said he wants to make the people aware that the country imports 80% of its oil needs and fuel should be conserved because the country cannot afford to keep shelling out $170 billion year after year.

'We are coming with a mega conservation campaign, which will be launched on September 16. Before that, we are considering ideas about how this can be done. If BJP has some brilliant idea, they are most welcome to send it to us. We will certainly consider it,' he said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had attacked the proposal saying it was tantamount to imposing economic emergency on the people.

'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,' Moily said.