RIL creates scarcity of gas supply: Kiran

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Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said on Wednesday that the Centre should ascertain whether Mr Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries was creating an artificial scarcity of gas. Speaking to the media here, Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the state had been badly hit because of shortage of gas supposed to be supplied by Reliance. Power utilities could operate at only 34 per cent Plant Load Factor resulting in a shortage of 1,600 MW power, he said, adding that this was compounded by nearly zero hydel power generation. The Chief Minister pointed out that the power crisis was a countrywide problem and not restricted to the state.

On whether the state would penalise Reliance for short supplies, Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy said the Centre should first establish whether the shortage was real or artificial. “Damages can be claimed if it is found that Reliance is creating a scarcity,” he said, adding he had already written to the Prime Minister in this regard. Defending his earlier observations at a function in Chittoor regarding Reliance gas in the presence of Union food minister Sharad Pawar, the Chief Minister said he wanted to apprise the latter about the situation as Mr Pawar was all set to become chairman of the Group of Ministers on gas after the exit of Mr Pranab Mukherjee.

Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy, however, gave an assurance that there would not be any water scarcity for the twin cities. The current reserves in the water bodies which cater to the city’s needs are adequate for the next five months, he said and hoped that the monsoon would improve. The Chief Minister has also sent chief secretary Minnie Mathew to New Delhi to brief the Centre about the on-going power crisis and seek immediate relief. She will meet the Union Cabinet secretary and the secretaries of energy and petroleum and request for diversion of power to the state from the un-allotted Central pool. “We will get 131 MW power from Jhajjar NTPC power plant,” Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy said.