Deora to tell LS about Govt stand in Ambani gas row

Under attack from Anil Ambani group but rejuvenated by Law Minister Veerappa Moily's backing, Oil Minister Murli Deora will speak in Parliament on Monday about a row over gas supply to the industrialist's proposed power plant in Uttar Pradesh.

Under attack from Anil Ambani group but rejuvenated by Law Minister Veerappa Moily's backing, Oil Minister Murli Deora will speak in Parliament on Monday about a row over gas supply to the industrialist's proposed power plant in Uttar Pradesh.

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Deora's statement on gas to Dadri power project is in response to the issue raised by Samajwadi Party members in Lok Sabha on July 29, a day after Anil accused Oil Ministry of colluding with elder brother Mukesh Ambani-led RIL in its design to make super-normal profit of Rs 50,000 crore.

In his statement, Deora would inform the house about the decision of an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on Anil Ambani group firm RNRL's claim of first right over 28 million standard cubic meters per day of gas from RIL and the policy about fuel supply to future power projects.

The statement is understood to have been vetted at a meeting called by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday evening that was also attended by Moily, government counsel Mohan Parasaran and top officials of the ministries of petroleum and law.

Moily had hit out at Anil Ambani on Friday night, saying it was "uncharitable" on part of some people to have accused Deora of siding with RIL.

The SP members, led by their President Mulayam Singh Yadav, had demanded Deora's resignation, while accusing the Centre of stalling the 7,800-megawatt power plant, about 50 km from the national capital.