Government files affidavit in SC to be impleaded in RIL-RNRL dispute

The union government today filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court in connection with the case between Reliance Industries and Reliance Natural Gas Ltd, seeking to be a party to the ongoing dispute over gas produced from the Krishna-Godavari basin on the east cost of India.

Mukesh Ambani-led RIL also today submitted that it has no unfettered rights over the KG basin gas and that it would not be possible to supply gas to the Anil Ambani group firm without the government's permission.

Reliance Industries said it was only the operator of the Krishna Godavari basin and that was bound by government policies on the pricing and sale of gas produced at the KG-D6 field.

RIL also prayed the Supreme Court that it be allowed to sell gas to others without any restraint.

Union petroleum minister Murli Deora had, last week, stated that the gas in the Krishna-Godavari basin belonged to the government and that the Ambani brothers need not go to court over it. He did not elaborate as the matter was sub judice.

Commenting on the dispute, Andhra chief minister YS Rajshekhar Reddy also said the gas in the Krishna-Godavari basin would be allotted by the central government and not by the Ambani brothers, adding, it was not a family matter of the Ambanis.