Himachal cuts down on petrol use

The hike in petrol prices has hit the Himachal Pradesh exchequer hard, forcing the state government to reduce the monthly petrol quota for vehicles used by its top state officials.

"Now state government officials in the secretariat will be able to consume 70 litres of petrol per month instead of 75 litres which they consumed earlier," a state government spokesman said today.

The fuel cuts will also apply to all other government run vehicles in departments and corporations of the Himachal government across the hill state.

"Those exceeding this quota will have to pay from their pocket," said the spokesman.

The reduction of 5 litres of petrol quota per month for every vehicle used by the government officials would save Rs 75 lakh every year.

Sources said the government was not ruling out further cuts in petrol for government-run-vehicles.