Gas cannot be managed by Centre: GSPC chiefBS Reporter / Ahmedabad December 7, 2007At a time when the central government has moved to nominate GAIL India as the sole marketing agency for gas produced from the Panna Mukta Tapti (PMT) gasfields from April 2008, Gujarat's state-owned Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) has come out strongly against central regulations in awarding of distribution rights.DJ Pandian, MD, GSPC, made his displeasure of the centre's hold over distribution rights very clear by saying that policy decisions that favour one or two industrialists cannot help develop the gas industry."Even if gas is a Centre subject, that does not mean it can be micro-managed by lobbyists in Delhi," said Pandian while addressing a seminar at the 'India Energy Conclave 2007' in Ahmedabad.Admitting that the country might have to start looking at importing gas at some stage in the future in spite of current reserves, Pandian said, "Whether the price is for domestic or imported gas, if we do not have the right to determine price or whom to sell, it may not help the larger interests of the industry. We need to de-regulate."The decision hasn
