The government is taking pains to not cross the path of the Election Commission, even in the conduct of routine business.
The Petroleum Ministry on Wednesday sought the EC’s approval to hold a meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) regarding the supply of gas —to be produced shortly from the D6 gas field of Reliance Industries Limited — to the power sector.
A Petroleum Ministry communiqué of March 18 to the EC read, “As the production from KG D-6 is expected in a few weeks, it is emergent to take a decision regarding the supply of gas so produced to power plants.”
The communiqué said the requirement of power plants connected to D6 fields is double the amount sanctioned by the EGoM. “A decision therefore has to be taken by the EGOM on the final distribution of this 18 MSCMD gas to the power plants. It is requested that the approval of the EC may kindly be conveyed for holding a meeting of the EGoM,” it said.