Electricity consumption to be reduced by 25pc at govt offices

The government has decided to reduce electricity consumption by 25 percent at its all offices in an effort to save power. 

The decision was taken in a meeting of senior secretaries of different ministries and departments held at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday.

Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, presided over the meeting.

The meeting was arranged to determine effective measures to save government expenditure. 

The meeting discussed how to implement the government's costs saving policy amid the situation arising due to a rise in prices of commodities, including energy, across the world.

BSS adds: PMO Senior Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah was also present.

While briefing the reporters, the Principal Secretary said the ministries and divisions would take the initiatives to formulate their own policies to reduce the consumption of electricity and water as "the consumption of electricity at all government offices has to cut down by 25 percent."

He said that the finance division will also issue necessary gazette notification aiming to cut down the use of budgetary allocation of the energy sector by 20 percent.

Dr Ahmad Kaikaus said, "There is no reason to be panicked. This is a precautionary measure so that we don't have to face any kind of crisis in the future."

Mentioning that this measure is not only for the capital city, he said that all the ministries and divisions will take the measures to follow it at their district and upazila level offices.  

Reminding all about the Prime Minister's call to increase production and be thrifty, the Principal Secretary called upon the ministries and divisions to save electricity and fuel by avoiding unnecessary expenses.

He also urged non-government organizations to come forward following the government's policy.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, Senior Secretary of Water Resources Ministry Kabir Bin Anwar, Senior Secretary of Public Administration Ministry KM Ali Azam and Finance Division Senior Secretary Fatima Yasmin, among others, took part in the discussion.

Other decisions taken at the meeting are – avoidance of physical meetings unless unavoidable of presence and holding most of the meetings virtually, avoidance of foreign travel as much as possible unless it is essential, market monitoring to keep the prices of daily commodities, including foodstuffs, at a tolerable level and strengthening other measures including taking action against hoarding through mobile courts.

The ministry of education and the ministry of primary and mass education have taken the necessary initiatives to rationalize the use of private vehicles in the transportation of students in educational institutions.

Taking necessary steps from the beginning of the financial year to increase internal resource mobilization has been stressed as  NBR should take effective measures to achieve the target.

At the same time, it was mentioned at the meeting that every ministry will review its own procurement plan and take initiatives to reduce revenue expenditure.

SUJ/SU