Kiran Kumar Reddy seeks Centre's nod for laying gas distribution network

NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh today sought the Centre's permission to lay extensive gas distribution network to take natural gas sourced from the state and the adjoining Bay of Bengal to the intended beneficiaries.

In his speech at the NDC Meet, State Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said the state Government has decided to obtain "maximum benefit of this important natural resource which at the moment, is moving to other parts of the country for lack of connectivity development."

"We have good demand within our state and we have approached Government of India and its regulator to permit us to lay extensive gas distribution network to take the gas to the intended beneficiaries which in turn will optimize our state's economy and propel industrial development," he said.

Stating that Andhra Pradesh and its adjoining sea has become a major source of natural gas for the country, Reddy requested the Centre to take steps to "authorize it immediately" for construction of two trunk pipelines -- Kakinada-Basudevpur-Howrah and Kakinada-Vijayawada- Nellore-Chennai.

"The state government is keen to develop in collaboration with Government of India, a RLING terminal and take active steps in this regard," he said.

The Chief Minister also sought the Prime Minister's "indulgence" in ensuring that it gets "due priority in allocation of natural gas for its "optimal development and to mitigate the difficulties of the power plants and industry which are presently "starved and operate at sub-optimal level for want of natural gas".