HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy has renewed his plea to Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Murali Deora for refunding Rs. 607 crore "unjustly collected" by the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) from Transco as "gas transmission charges" without supplying gas.

Dr. Reddy also sought proper supply from GAIL to the gas-based power projects in the State as committed in the purchase agreements and reduction in the price of gas produced at Ravva Fields. He addressed three separate letters to the Union Minister on Saturday, highlighting the power crisis faced by the State due to improper gas supply and unfair deal by GAIL.

The Chief Minister said that GAIL had collected higher gas transmission charges from the Transco even while keeping its pipelines idle. A group headed by the Member (Energy), Planning Commission, acting upon Transco's complaint, ruled that the over-payments received by the GAIL (Rs. 607 crore) be refunded.

The GAIL representatives did not respond. He wanted the Minister re-examine the issue.

In a separate letter, Dr Reddy said an installed capacity of 1,271 MW of the existing plants and 1,499 MW of the four just-completed projects was lying idle due to inadequate gas supply, leading to an unprecedented power crisis. The State was now forced to purchase power from outside at a high price of Rs 6.50 per unit causing an additional burden of Rs 1,200 crore on the exchequer, he said.

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