The issue of gas allocation from the KG-6 oilfield being developed by Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries again figured in the Lok Sabha today with an AIADMK member alleging that southern states, especially Tamil Nadu, were being left high and dry.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, M Thambi Durai said the company had secured a clearance from the Government for supply of gas from the KG basin in 2007 and it was supposed to lay main gas pipeline from Kakinada to Chennai.
Noting that the other pipelines were from Chennai to Tuticorin, Chennai to Bangaluru and Chennai to Cochin, he regretted that the company has not even dug a single KM for laying these pipelines.
"And deliberately, they are taking gas from Kakinada to Gujarat. They are concentrating only on Mumbai, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and other Northern states. The gas from Bombay High is already taken to U P and Bihar", he rued.
Thambi Durai said in the federal setup, all states have to be accorded equal rights, "but here is a situation where the southern states are suffering. Southern states, especially Tamil Nadu, are being ignored and neglected continuously by the Government of India".
He alleged that when "all this injustice" is being done, the DMK, despite being part of the central coalition, is keeping quiet. The AIADMK member also wanted the Government to expedite exploration of natural gas from the Cauvery basin.
At the outset, he said Tamil Nadu was totally dependent on gas for energy purposes as it does not have adequate coal to produce thermal power, or adequate water for drinking or irrigation purposes or for producing hydel power.
