'There has been no discrimination against Uttar Pradesh,' minister Deora said in the statement, adding that the state-run power utility NTPC had been allocated 0.45 million metric standard cubic metre per day (mmscmd) of gas for its Dadri unit.

Further, five out of the 15 existing urea plants that were allocated gas from the Krishna-Godavari basin are located in the northern state.

In the case of Anil Ambani's company, however, Deora said the case was considered by an empowered group of ministers led by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. 'This plant is neither installed nor functional,' he added.

'The intention of the government is very clear. We will allocate gas to Dadri plant subject to availability and that Dadri plant will be treated on the same footing as other similar plants placed under similar circumstances.'

The fields belonging to Reliance Industries in the Krishna-Godavari basin were producing 31 million units per day since April 1 and within a year, it would go up to 81 million units, the minister told the house.

As per the government's gas utilisation policy, 15 mmscmd was allocated to existing urea plants, 18 mmscmd to existing power plants, 3 mmscmd to distributors of cooking gas and another 5 mmscmd for cooking gas for cities through pipelines.

Deora said the Bombay High court judgment in May upholding the agreement has 'implications on the government's rights to formulate and implement the gas utilisation policy under the production sharing contract'.

The pact provides for 28 mmscmd to RNRL, 12 mmscmd to NTPC and the remaining to be shared between RIL and RNRL at a ratio of 60:40, he said.

The document also says this formula will be applicable not just to Krishna-Godavari fields, but also to future discoveries and production by Reliance Industries.

'Under the circumstances, it was necessary to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court and accordingly action has been taken,' said the petroleum minister.

-- Indo-Asian News Service

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