The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has launched “Project Lakshya” to reduce waiting time for delivery of LPG cylinders and track duplicate connections, by enrolling the assistance of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the Pune-based Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) through a new software.
RIL had sought, inter alia, to restrict KG-D6 block audit to accounting books and records
Refusing the demands of the Mukesh-Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has stated that the operator’s “restrictive conditions” for carrying out an audit of the KG-D6 offshore block “impinge upon the basic mandate, rights and obligations of the [CAG]” to conduct as well as report the results of its audit to Parliament.
Faced with increasing political heat and criticism within the party and outside, the Manmohan Singh government has put on hold the Rs. 26.50 hike in the price of non-subsidised LPG cylinders. It is also reviewing the cap of six LPG cylinders allowed to domestic consumers in a year.
Sources in the government said that after the oil marketing companies (OMCs) hiked on November 1 the price of a non-subsidised LPG cylinder by Rs. 26.50 to Rs. 922 per unit on firming international rates, the government came under increasing pressure and criticism for effecting one hike after another.
PM “sympathetic” to Reliance Industries’ demand for gas price revision
India Against Corruption alleged on Wednesday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was batting for corporate houses, and the PMO was very “sympathetic” to Reliance Industries Limited’s demand for a revision in the gas price. “RIL’s request for an increase in the gas price was turned down by the Petroleum Ministry under the leadership of Jaipal Reddy and the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) during the past two years. The EGoM had fixed a price of $4.2 per Million Metric British Thermal Units (mmBtu) for RIL and others, valid till March 31, 2014.
The postponement conveyed by Petroleum Ministry to CAG on October 29
Only days after the change of guard in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, the “Entry Conference” by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) with the Petroleum Ministry officials and representatives of Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) to discuss details of the financial audit of KG D6 accounts has been postponed indefinitely.
Last week, Sriprakash Jaiswal said files were yet to reach him
The Coal Ministry has not acted upon the recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) for de-allocating six additional coal blocks and deduct bank guarantee in the case of seven companies. Although the IMG had submitted its final recommendations relating to the treatment of 29 coal blocks allotted to private parties, who were issued show cause notices, the Coal Ministry, under Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, has failed to initiate further action in pending cases
Consumers nationwide should brace themselves for higher electricity tariffs, with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Monday approving a Rs. 1.90-lakh crore debt restructuring package for the State Electricity Boards to facilitate a turnaround of the State distribution companies (discoms). The CCEA, which met under the leadership of the Prime Minister, approved the package that will force the distribution companies, which are in the red, to begin a fresh round of tariff increase.
Competitive bidding for coal blocks may begin early next year
Moving a step closer towards transparency and clarity, the Coal Ministry has invited the comments of coal producing States on rules for auction of assets through competitive bidding. Allocation of coal blocks to companies for specified end use other than power generation shall be done through competitive bidding, in which even government firms can participate.
Sudhir Kant Sahay is honorary executive director of the company
Even as the Coal Ministry on Monday decided to cancel the allocation of the Gourangdih ABC block in West Bengal, owned by Sajjan Jindal’s JSW Steel Ltd. and Himachal EMTA, it delayed action against SKS Ispat, linked to Sudhir Kant Sahay, brother of Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, leading to speculation about political pressure on the issue.
