Anil Ambani meets Murli Deora

Industrialist Anil Ambani, head of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, today called on petroleum and natural gas minister Murli Deora and is believed to have discussed allocation of natural gas to his group's upcoming power plants.

"I have known (Anil) for many years. He just came to see me. I have nothing more to say," Deora told reporters when asked about the nearly 30-minute meeting.

Ambani too refused to speak to media persons about the meeting, where oil secretary S Sundareshan was also present.

Official sources had on Monday indicated that the government may delay allocating natural gas to the Anil Ambani Group's proposed power plants like the Dadri project in Uttar Pradesh till only six months prior to commissioning, as reservation of gas is not allowed under the present policy.

Last month, a plea by group company Reliance Natural Resources for cheap gas from elder brother Mukesh-led Reliance Industries was turned down by the Supreme Court on the ground that gas was a national asset and government had the last word on its pricing and utilisation.

The Ambani brothers have since agreed to renegotiate an agreement on gas supply, and Mukesh at the Annual General Meeting of Reliance Industries last week said his firm was ready to supply gas to Anil group's power plants as and when they are ready.