Ministers, officials cycle tooffice, leads green push

Lucknow: Joining the mission propagated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, political leaders and bureaucrats from UP set examples by avoiding use of motor vehicles completely on their way to work.State minister Dinesh Pratap Singh opted for public transport and used autorickshaw and bus to commute from his Lucknow residence to his Sapru Marg, Hazratganj-situated office.Similarly Daya Shankar Mishra aka Dayalu, state Ayush minister, switched over to green energy. Dayalu decided to use electric car from Thursday morning.The three leaders shunned their convoys and motorcade of vehicles, including the security personnel deployed to escort their official cars. MLC Singh, who is from Rae Bareli, has communicated to the local administration and police chief to avoid providing him an escort during his visit to the neighbouring district. The two leaders too took a pledge alongside the PM to resort to eco-friendly steps to cut down on daily usage of fuel, electricity by adopting a minimalistic lifestyle.Director, SGPGI Prof Radha Krishan Dhiman also cycled from his residence to office on Thursday.He also announced a green mobility campaign inside the campus and appealed everyone to take steps to save fuel. Adding that the initiative would help conserve petroleum products, reduce pollution and improve health and fitness among staff and students, he appealed employees living within 3-4 kilometres of the campus to avoid using motor vehicles for daily commuting and adopt walking or cycling instead.Similarly, officials too joined the campaign, with Barabanki district magistrate Ishan Pratap Singh choosing to walk to the collectorate from the residence along with several other staff members. Director of SGPGI, RK Dhiman, too opted to cycle to work from his home on Thursday morning. The institute is going to promote use of bicycle on the campus by creating a bicycle parking space.Varanasi mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari too walked to the municipal corporation office and urged the staff members to observe all Saturdays as no-fuel day. Several other corporators joined him and expressed their commitment to give up personal vehicle for a few days.Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday took a decision to use only half the fleet of motor vehicles that accompanies him during official visits and urged his ministerial colleagues and officials to use public transportation and organise virtual meetings as far as possible.