Murli Deora Petroleum minister

14.06.10 New Delhi : The Petroleum Products Ministry at the centre has spent Rs 35 crores from the public treasury at a time when the Central Govt, has expressed concern over global economic problems and advised certain measures to all departments to desist from over – spending, as in civil aviation. The Petroleum Ministry has wasted the money in too many advertisements telling people to save on fuel consumption!.
This Ministry uses 7 cars with a mileage of mere 7.40 kms per litre, when it advises private vehicle owners to save on petrol and maximize mileage per litre of oil.
The PCRI, a research Organisation on petroleum usage, is spending heavily, on ads to create public awareness on saving petrol, while forgetting its own useless ad expenses.
The ministry’s foolhardiness has been exposed by a public petition under RTI right Act in a Court of Law recently. The Delhi Santnagar Resident Jagjit Singh has told the court that a properly maintained Ambassador Car can give over 13km mileage per litre of Petrol. Was there any need for Petroleum Research Institute to spend heavily on TV and daily newspaper ads for 13 months, he asked. The stress is upon saving fuel, ecology (from fumes), and proper use of fuel in vehicles, he added.
Is it a sheer coincidence that the Central Government is proceeding unabashedly to raise fuel prices on cooking gas, petrol and diesel, and proposing to give freedom to Oil Companies to fix various fuel prices, while distributing fuels like Oil and Gas? He sought a clarification in the court, under RTI Act.