Telugu Desam leaders on Sunday demanded that Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister S. Jaipal Reddy step down if he was not in a position to ensure the supply of allocated quota of 13.65 mmscmd (million metric standard cubic metres per day) of gas to the power projects in Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting of TD Parliamentary Party (TDPP), its leader Nama Nageswara Rao and MP M. Venu Gopal Reddy, said that not even 30 per cent of the allocated gas was being supplied and as a result the gas-based power projects in the State were operating at 25 per cent PLF (Plant Load Factor).
Lashing out at the Union Minister for reportedly claiming that he had nothing to do with his ministry’s decision to reduce the allocation to the State and divert it to Gujarat, they said that Mr. Jaipal Reddy was coming out with excuses and asked him to quit if he was so “inefficient”.
They said that Mr. Reddy would be grilled on the issue in the monsoon session of Parliament, beginning from August 8.
Stating that gross injustice was being meted out to the State in various aspects, including allocation of power from the national grid, sanctioning new railway projects, medical seats and funds, they said the issues would be raised in Parliament.
Replying to a question on Telangana, Mr. Nageswara Rao said the party was committed to the letter sent to the then sub-committee appointed by the UPA government. It would support if a Bill was introduced for carving out a new State. Congress leaders were blaming TDP to “cover-up their inefficiency” on Telangana.
Blaming successive Congress regimes since 2004 for the present power crisis in the State, senior TDP leader Y. Ramakrishnudu, accused Mr. Jaipal Reddy of trying to wash his hands off the gas diversion issue.
