By DeshGujarat News, Ahmedabad, 1 March, 2012

Speaking at two-day national conference of Forum of Indian Regulators (FOIR) today morning in Amdavad’s hotel Courtyard Marriott, Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke on how the central government obstructed Gujarat’s gas grid project. Shri Modi was of opinion that Delhi can’t decide whether Gujarat should lay a gas pipeline or not.

“Gujarat is quickly shifting to gas based economy. We have our own gas, our land also produces land. Norms of supply of coal to those states where coal is produced are different than the norms of supply of gas to state like Gujarat where gas is produced. So those states producing coal are benefited with cheaper availability of coal, while Gujarat, the state that produces gas gets coal on higher rate,” Shri Modi said.

“Narrating the problem with the system further, Shri Modi said, “we have an issue with centre for which we are fighting in the Supreme Court. One of the speaker said here that the state Gujarat has laid down a 2400 km long gas grid, but you would be surprised to learn that the govt of India says we have no right to lay down the gas grid. Now I don’t understand whether the state govt would do the business of deciding whether some Municipality somewhere in the state should lay down a pipeline to carry water or not? The state govt can’t decide that.”

“Similarly, Delhi can’t decide whether some state should lay a gas pipeline or not. We had to go to the court on this issue. If such problem would not be there, the entire system of gas grid could bring change to our state.,” Shri Modi added.

Muting an idea of tenders regulation, the Chief Minister said, “sometime I think whether we want to make India a modern country or not? Have we a regulation system for tenders? In post earthquake period, the world bank had dictated us in the matter of issuing tenders, by expecting certain level of infrastructure. This resulted in infrastructural upgradation in the state.” DeshGujarat News.