Telangana Governor Urges Fuel Conservation and Intensified Anti-Drug Campaign

Hyderabad: Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has appealed to the public to embrace fuel conservation measures by curtailing their reliance on personal vehicles, emphasising the importance of safeguarding the country's foreign exchange reserves during the current global energy crisis.

In remarks conveyed through a video statement issued by Lok Bhavan on Thursday, the Governor referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to reducing his official convoy size despite security constraints. Shukla noted that since taking office as Telangana's Governor, he has personally limited vehicle usage and has recently mandated a 50 per cent reduction in vehicle deployment at Lok Bhavan.

The Governor attributed the urgency of fuel conservation to the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, which have contributed to worldwide energy instability. He underscored the necessity of decreasing India's reliance on petroleum imports and called upon citizens to act with responsibility to maintain the strength of the rupee.

Shukla indicated his intention to approach the Chief Minister with a request to instruct state Ministers and government functionaries to reduce their official vehicle usage. He also encouraged political figures to minimise convoy sizes and align their practices with the precedent established by national leadership.

Public representatives bear a particular responsibility in championing fuel conservation through their own conduct, the Governor stated, emphasising that restraint in official transportation and fuel consumption can serve as a model for citizens. He stressed that preventing capital outflow through petroleum expenditure remains critical for the nation's economic interests.

Beyond fuel conservation, Shukla announced plans to initiate a "Nasha Mukt Telangana" campaign targeting narcotics abuse in the state. Drawing on his earlier anti-drug efforts in Himachal Pradesh, he highlighted how that initiative had successfully penetrated community levels with assistance from media organisations.

The Governor proposed that schools, colleges, and universities incorporate anti-drug pledges into their admission documentation, requiring students to commit to remaining drug-free and promoting this message among their peers. He identified young people as pivotal agents in disseminating awareness throughout communities.

Shukla acknowledged the media's instrumental role in amplifying public awareness campaigns and expressed confidence that collaborative efforts from Telangana's media landscape would strengthen the anti-narcotics drive.