Indraprastha Gas cries foul over gas licence for Noida

Fearing oil regulator Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board may favour Adani Group for Noida's gas licence, Indraprastha Gas (IGL) has written to the regulator saying it is the sole entity authorised by the Centre and the Supreme Court for supply of CNG and piped gas in the NCR.

The firm, which retails CNG to automobiles and piped gas to households in the national capital, on July 23 wrote to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) questioning its move to consider Gujarat-based Adani Group for grant of city gas distribution (CGD) licence for Noida.

In the strongly worded 10-page letter, IGL said it was authorised by the central government through a letter dated April 8, 2004, for retailing of CGD operations in Noida.

Besides, the Supreme Court had also vide order dated March 11, 2005, and April 29, 2005, mandated the company to start CNG outlets in Noida and the Uttar Pradesh government had granted no-objection certificate (NOC) on August 30, 2007.

"IGL is the only entity authorised by the central government to lay and build city gas distribution network in Noida, as would appear from the letter dated April 8, 2004, of the central government, which names IGL as the implementing agency for the city of Faridabad, Noida and Gurgaon and 0.7 mmscmd of gas was allocated to IGL for the said cities," it said.