Two important paras of Gujarat High Court order of July 2012 make the things clear

Editor’s note, Ahmedabad, 20 August 2012

Are you confused after reading versions of BJP and Congress on gas allocation to Gujarat? At DeshGujarat, we are known for a journalism that doesn’t confuse you but give you a clear picture. So here is what we believe is the truth discovered. We discovered the truth from on gas allocation to Gujarat and its price.

We have put the entire verdict online through Google Documents on this link. It’s a 234-page document, but operative part can be read from 224th page onwards. Anyone who needs clarity on what is the truth in gas allocation matter can read the verdict from 224th onwards in general and last four pages in particular.

The court in its order clearly says:

The Government of India is directed to allot natural gas for domestic and vehicular usage at the same rate to the city of Ahmedabad at which the same is supplied to Delhi and Mumbai to enforce the right of equality.

This para of the verdict only shows that Ahmedabad is supplied gas not on the same rate compare to Delhi and Mumbai, and Ahmedabad’s right of equality is breached, therefore the court had to pass such verdict.

The court in its order also clearly said:

The respondent no.1(Government of India) for the same reason is directed not only to discriminate between CGDs(City Gas Distribution companies) promoted by the Central PSUs and other CGD but also among Gujarat based CGDS in the matter of allocation of natural gas.

This para of verdict clearly states that discrimination with Gujarat is going on.

Further reading

The petitioner (Dhrangadhra Prakruti Mandal) had in his petition stated that the reason for higher price in Ahmedabad compare to Mumbai and Delhi is on account of allocation of APM(Administered Price Mechanism) gas and KG D5 field’s gas to the LDCs operating in the cities of Delhi and Mumbai. The High Court verdict has in a way endorsed petitioner’s claim.

According to the document of the court order, the principal ground taken by the petitioner in this writ-application was that the demand of CGD entities authorized or promoted by Central PSUs were only considered, thereby leaving out entities in Gujarat who were still awaiting authorization under PNGRB Act. According to the petitioner, CGD entities promoted by Central PSUs received authorizations from MoPNG, while non-central PSU entities like Adani Gas Limited, Gujarat Gas Company Limited and GSPC Gas Co. Ltd.had to apply to PNGRB for their extensive networks spread across the state. The petitioner further contended that the Government of India has also allocated gas from KG D6 fields to CGD companies promoted by Central PSUs even in areas where network is yet to be developed, whereas on the other hand, Gujarat which has a network of CNG stations that creates country’s only CNG corridor was left out owing to pending authorization under PNGRB Act. The petitioner complains that such rigidity shown by the Central Government in allocation of India’s natural resources has led to a situation wherein the masses in Gujarat are facing the brunch of increasing RLNG(Imported Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas) prices which are affected even by global events like civil unrest in Middle East countries or natural calamities worldwide.

The court order very well addresses this ground.

The TV ad

The document of Gujarat High Court order clears all confusions. And therefore there’s nothing wrong in the ongoing advertisement (presented above) campaign on TV.

Related links:30% cut in gas price in Ahmedabad if centre implements Gujarat HC order on gas rates:Saurabh Patel,What RPN Singh said, what he skipped on gas allocation to Gujarat(Video),Gohil objects to TV ad featuring ‘injustice to Gujarat by centre’