Centre asked to give cheaper gas to Gujarat, minister hails 'victory'

, Oct 1: The

on Monday upheld the

High Court's order to provide

, including CNG, to the state for domestic and transportation use at the same price as it is given to cities like New Delhi and Mumbai by the Centre.

The high court had asked the Centre in July last year to provide the natural gas at Administered Price Mechanism (APM) rate, as effective in the two cities. The Centre filed a special leave petition with the apex court challenging the high court order and it was dismissed.

Last year, a division bench gave an order after public interest litigations were moved by Dhrangadhra Prakruti Mandal and the Gujarat Rajya Autorickshaw Federation. The high court asked the state government to force all vehicle owners in Gujarat to shift to natural gas within a year to put a check on the pollution level.

The Centre filed a special petition challenging the HC but it was dismissed

The petitioners said Gujarat faces a shortage of gas supply owing to non-allocation of natural gas at lower prices like the New Delhi and Mumbai and it makes it more expensive for the vehicle owners to use natural gas.

The BJP government in the state welcomed the latest order of the Supreme Court and termed it as a victory for the state against the alleged discrimination by the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. State Energy Minister Saurabh Shukla said the order will benefit over two lakh CNG vehicle users in the state.

OneIndia News