PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for citizens to cut down on consumption of petroleum products and non-essential imports, saying the country must respond collectively to ongoing global uncertainties.
Speaking to reporters today, Sawant said the Prime Minister’s message to the nation is clear and timely, especially against the backdrop of global conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, and other international tensions that continue to affect economies worldwide.
According to the Chief Minister, India must be mindful of how global instability impacts domestic resources and foreign exchange. “In the present situation, there is a need to control the use of petrol and petroleum products to some extent. Similarly, gold purchases also affect foreign exchange outflow,” he said, adding that citizens should align with the Prime Minister’s appeal.
He urged people of Goa to follow the guidance issued by the Centre, stressing that the country cannot afford to ignore global economic pressures. “We may be in a wait-and-watch phase, but the Prime Minister has maintained strong diplomatic engagement globally. It is important that all of us support this approach,” Sawant noted.
The comments come after the Prime Minister made a broader appeal to citizens to adopt lifestyle changes to reduce fuel consumption and conserve foreign exchange reserves.
PM Modi, addressing a public gathering in Hyderabad yesterday, had urged people to prioritise public transport, carpooling, rail travel for goods movement, and faster adoption of electric vehicles. He also suggested reviving pandemic-era habits such as work-from-home and virtual meetings to reduce travel-related fuel usage.
He further appealed for restraint in discretionary spending abroad, including international travel and gold purchases, for at least a year. He also encouraged citizens to reduce cooking oil consumption by around 10 per cent and adopt healthier and more sustainable habits.
Reinforcing the broader self-reliance push, the Prime Minister asked citizens to identify foreign-linked goods in daily use and gradually shift towards locally made alternatives, without abrupt disruption.
