Gas should be a state subject: Gujarati Samaj

Vishwa Gujarati Samaj (VGS), an organisation for safeguarding the interests of Gujarat, has embarked on a campaign to ensure that the state has control over the gas that is produced here.

It will hold awareness meetings to ensure that gas is made a state subject.

On March 25, the Supreme Court had quashed the Gujarat Gas (regulation of transmission, supply and distribution) Act 2001, an initiative of the state government to seek control over transmission, supply and distribution of gas through pipelines within its territory, on grounds that natural gas was a central subject and hence the state government had no powers to enact such a legislation, VGS said.

The Act, sent by the Gujarat government to the President for his assent, was not in force as the President had referred the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking its view on the issue.

With the state's gas Act having been quashed, it will be the central government that will frame laws governing transmission, supply and distribution of natural gas throughout the country, with the state government having no say in this, the organisation said.

VGS president Krishnakant Vakharia said, "If regulation of gas comes under the purview of the state, it will get revenue and employment will also be generated in the state," Vakharia said.