Cycling protects environment, conserves fuel and also carries huge health and fitness dividends: Minister of Petroleum

New Delhi, November 5: Cycling is not only limited to protect environment or fuel conservation but also carries huge health and fitness dividends said the Minister of Petroleum and Natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan while flagging off a Cyclothon event today. The event attracted around 5000 participants including officials from various Ministries and the Oil Industry, Sports personalities, Celebrity star Farhan Akhtar, Manoj Tiwari, school and college children cycling professionals, amateurs and even housewives.

 

The event was started from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the minister himself lead the 5 km Green Ride amidst great excitement and fan-fare to create awareness for cycle. Based on the distance to be covered, the Cyclothon featured four categories – Elite (Men – 45 km/women-27 km), Amateur (27 km), Open and the popular Green Ride. While the Elite and Amateur categories were for serious cyclists, the 9 km Open and the 5 km Green Rides allowed participants the experience the joy of cycling, while promoting fuel conservation, with the underlying message of reducing excessive dependency on oil for a cleaner and greener environment.

 

The minister said while talking on this occasion,” that judicious use of various forms of energy and its conservation is a matter of vital importance to all of us for the betterment of our society and healthy environment.”

 

“Conservation is a collective responsibility of all of us. It will be possible only when the industries, individual citizens, organizations, Oil Companies and the Government share a collective responsibility of petroleum conservation to conserve the available resources of energy and create a cleaner environment for the future generations.” He added.

It also helps us to save money and reduce air pollution, global warming, water pollution.

The genesis of this Cyclothon lay in PM Modi appeal to people in his monthly radio show Mann Ki Baat about avoiding the use of petrol & diesel for one day in the week to conserve fuels and contribute towards Nation building.