Petroleum Minister Veerapa Moily has said there is no proposal as of now to raise diesel prices beyond the 40-50 paise monthly increase. He said while launching the Petroleum conservation campaign in New Delhi today he said the increasing demand for petroleum products has generated concerns about its adverse impact on the environment and foreign exchange position. Moily said the country is importing more than 75 per cent crude oil to meet the domestic demand and the project requirement for 2013-14 will be 160 metric million tonnes.

The minister said government will launch a nation-wide campaign to generate awareness among the people for conserving petroleum products. He said the special focus of the campaign, beginning next month, will be on transport sector. Petroleum Minister said the objective of the mega campaign is to motivate the consumers in cities and towns to minimize their fuel bills thereby helping the country in reducing oil imports.

The Minister said the ministry will conduct an impact assessment of the campaign by a third party. He made it clear that the conservation measures are voluntary and hoped that the people will respond to the campaign positively. Mr Moily said that he has taken up to hs has taken up with the ministers of power, road transport and highways, urban development and agriculture the conservation issue and also written to Chief Ministers ministers.