Kolkata, Jan. 25 : Representatives of oil companies like Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum and Indian Oil, along with employees of the Gas Authority of India (GAIL), members of the Petroleum Conservation Researchers' Association (PCRA) and students from several schools participated in a walkathon here today.

The walk was aimed at creating awareness regarding the need to conserve oil.

According to S K Srivastava, Regional Manager, Bharat Petroleum, oil as a natural reserve was under threat of running out across the globe.

It was, therefore. necessary to use it judiciously, he added.

He said it was essential that the public became aware of the need to conserve oil.

Farheen Khatun, a student of the Tollygunje Girls' High School, said: "We have come here for oil and gas conservation like students from other schools. We are from Tollygunje Girls' High School and we have come for oil conservation. We participated here to make the people more aware regarding oil. That's why this Walk-a-Thon has been arranged. We have participated in this walkathon to make public aware."

The walk was organized as part of Oil and Gas Conservation Fortnight, 2009 from January 15th to January 31st. The fortnight is being observed by the public sector oil and gas companies in India under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

The Ministry has been observing this fortnight every year since 1991 to focus public attention on issues of oil and gas conservation and environment protection. (ANI)