By Dominick Rodrigues
Mumbai: Environmental awareness alongside conservation of the earth’s finite energy resources was the clarion call given by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas through 2021:SAKSHAM — an annual event organized jointly by Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) and Oil Industry under the aegis of Govt. of India and guidelines of PCRA recently.
Saksham 2021, which was inaugurated in Maharashtra by the Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari on January 16, had witnessed the Oil & Gas industry collectively conducting a month-long slew of 21 different mass awareness campaigns through 1900 activities including debate competitions for school children, group talk and wall painting for college students, interactive sessions for engineering students, and even a “fuel efficient driving competition” for car owners, heavy vehicles and also for CNG Autorickshaws.
The event highlighted need for curbing wasteful expenditure on fossil fuel, reducing the growing burden on foreign exchequer and protecting the environment from the adverse effect of Green House Gases emanating from burning of fossil fuels. The Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) has been in the forefront to create mass awareness towards conservation of petroleum products, promoting fuel-efficient equipment and helping the government in proposing policies and strategies for petroleum conservation.
The event featured discussions on implementing easy and practical conservation tips for women and domestic sectors group, besides quiz competitions for clubs, society, NGO’s etc The message of promoting oil conservation was highlighted through articles-writing competition in newspapers and press conferences, besides publishing conservation messages through the Governor and Chief Minister of Maharashtra in newspapers and public awareness films, TV spots, radio jingles.
Senior officials of the oil industry, petrol pump dealers, LPG distributors, press media, school children, teachers etc. were present during the valedictory program where participants in the program, students, wall painting competition, debate competitions and newspaper representatives were honored for their outstanding performance, besides a skit on fuel conservation by professionals from Kalyan and Kandivali providing entertainment.
