Bhubaneswar: The Odisha governor, Prof. Ganeshi Lal, inaugurated the month-long campaign of Oil & Gas Conservation Awareness Drive-Saksham20, here on Thursday.

Prof. Ganeshi Lal flagged off the oil and gas conservation van which will be moving to all the 30 districts of Odisha to propagate the message among people.

Speaking on the occasion, the governor stressed upon the need to conserve petroleum products at all costs as conservation and efficient use of petroleum products will lead to better health and environment protection and protection to national economy. Pointing out that at the present rate of use, it can be said that of petroleum products will hardly last for the next few decades, he urged oil industries along with Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) to organize such programme in a bigger way for the noble cause to create awareness among all sectors of people about the importance of oil and gas conservation.

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.(IOCL) general manager(HR-CSR), OSO, Debi Prasad Satpathy, of oil industry-Odisha, in his welcome address, elaborated on the activities planned to create awareness about oil and gas conservation in the state.

Other dignitaries, A.D.Jamjute, GM (Lubes), OSO, Abhayankar, DGM (RS), HPCL, Raj Raina, BPCL, Ch. Manager-Retail (Business Plan), Arun Kumar Bothra, CMD, OSRTS & Transport Commissioner, and P.K.Panda, Additional Director, PCRA shared the dais at the inaugural function. On this occasion, all the people who attended the function took pledge to conserve oil & gas.

During the 30 days from January 16, 2020 oil industries, jointly with PCRA, will conduct training programs for drivers on better driving habits to save fuel. Workshops will be conducted for house wives on better cooking habits to save LPG. Across the State, quiz, debate and painting competitions will be organized in schools and colleges to emphasize upon the importance of conservation. Mass awareness programmes will be conducted in agriculture and industrial sectors, too.