Reliance Gas Fires Kiran Jaipal Rift

State govt. is up in arms against the Centre as its not ready to withdraw its order of diverting Two million standard cubic meters per day (MMSMD) of gas from Krishna-Godavari Basin to Ratnagiri power plant in Maharashtra

This issue of Gas allocation is creating rift between chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Union petroleum and natural gas minister S Jaipal Reddy as the power starved state is in deep darkness with drought situations prevailing in AP. Union petroleum and natural gas minister S Jaipal Reddy who hails from the state is being blamed for diversion of gas from KG basin.

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, energy minister Veerappa Moily and Jaipal Reddy not to divert the gas. CM, deputed minister Dharmana Prasada Rao and officials of power utilities to meet Jaipal Reddy and apprise him of power situation in the state.

When Dharmana and co explained the situation to Jaipal on Saturday, the latter reportedly refused to intervene in the issue and instead suggested that the state should approach the Prime Minister.

Refuting  allegations of Opposition parties as false that he was not protecting his home state’s interests, Jaipal Reddy made it clear that he had tried all his means to provide gas to the state. He said that the power ministry had waited till August 1 to divert the gas to Ratnagiri plant, though the actual date as per the agreement was March 1. He made it clear that he could no longer stop the diversion of the gas from the KG basin. He further said there were alternatives before the state government to buy additional gas. However, he alleged that the state was not doing so.

Kiran Kumar has now sought an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to apprise him of the power situation and seek additional gas and coal. Other Congress leaders are also getting ready to take the issue up with the high command.