India Behind The Lens (News Centre)

# CM expresses indignation over Centre’s unjust move of snatching the Gujarat government’s right for installing gas pipelines and distributing cooking gas through the state’s own gas network

# Gujarat has spent Rs. 5,000 Cr for laying 2,200 km high pressure gas pipeline and Rs. 5,000 Cr for 8,000 km low pressure gas pipeline

# If the Centre allows Gujarat to lay gas pipelines, it would save 3.5 crore gas cylinders every year, and benefits of billions of rupees to the Centre exchequer, which would otherwise be used in giving subsidy

Chief Minister Narendra Modi has expressed indignation over Centre’s unjust move of snatching the Gujarat government’s right to distribute cooking gas through the state’s own gas pipeline network. “Gujarat is the only state which has set up a 2200 km. gas grid with a view to make available cooking gas at cheaper rates compare to LPG cylinder provide by the Centre. But, at one hand the Centre is multiplying the troubles of crores of women by rationing the LPG cylinders and on the other hand, from last two years, it is also not allowing Gujarat to lay more gas distribution pipelines and provide gas at cheaper rates”, he said.

Speaking at the Vivekanand Yuva Vikas Yatra the chief minister said, “The Centre itself does not have capacity to provide adequate gas cylinders and moreover, by rationing the gas cylinders, it compels people to buy gas at high prices from black market”. Gujarat has laid 2,200 km. high pressure gas pipeline at the cost of Rs.5,000 crore, as well 8,000 km. low pressure gas pipeline also at the cost of Rs.5,000 crore. Besides, about 10 lakh LPG connections have been given to the households at the cost of Rs.1,000 crore with partnership of government and private companies, he said.

Cooking gas is being provided to about 350 villages and cities of Gujarat at the cheaper rates compare to the Centre’s cylinder gas through the gas grid. This amounts to a saving of Rs.600 crore for the Centre in the form of subsidies. But since there is BJP government in Gujarat, the Centre keeps political enmity and has snatched from last two years the state’s right of laying gas distribution pipelines, he said.

“If Centre allows Gujarat to lay gas pipelines, the state government would be able to give 30 lakh cooking gas connections in the state in next three to five years. This means that Gujarat alone can save 30 lakh gas cylinders every month for the Centre. This amounts to saving of 3.5 crore gas cylinders every year, and benefits of billions of rupees to the Centre exchequer, which would otherwise be used in giving subsidy”, he said.But the Centre’s Congress government harbours perverted mentality of rendering troubles to Gujarat even at the cost of people’s money, he said.