New Delhi, July 09: The Fertiliser Ministry on Thursday
said the interests of urea plants as a consumer of gas should
be protected irrespective of the outcome of a legal battle
between the two Ambani brothers over supply of fuel.
"We basically want the interest of the fertiliser industry
to be protected. It doesn`t matter to us what will happen to
them (RIL and RNRL), neither is it in our control. But as a
consumer we want to be protected," Fertiliser Secretary Atul
Chaturvedi told.
"Today I have raised the issue for fertiliser, tomorrow
the power (sector) may raise it and the steel sector may rake
it up as well because they are also undergoing the same
situation. So as a consumer we say our supply should remain in
tact," Chaturvedi said.
RNRL and RIL have filed cross-petitions in the Supreme
Court against the June 15 ruling of the Bombay High Court that
said Anil Ambani group should get gas from RIL at USD 2.34 per
million British thermal unit, a price that is 44 per cent less
than that fixed by the government.
The High Court had also asked the two sides to work out
an agreement based on their family settlement.
Following the ruling, the Fertiliser Ministry had
expressed concern over the fate of about 15 mmscmd of gas
allocated to urea units. Chaturvedi had written to the
Petroleum Ministry, noting that family agreements should not
be allowed to override the national interest.
Bureau Report
