Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Campaign launched on natural gas

VIJAYAWADA: The Jana Vignana Vedika (JVV), in association with People for India, launched a campaign here on Thursday to create awareness among people of their “rightful share” in the natural gas reserves found in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin. Vice-Chancellor of Acharya Nagarjuna University V. Balamohandas flagged off the campaign at Lenin Centre.

Commending the efforts of the JVV in making people aware of their rights, Prof. Balamohandas said that demanding the rightful share in the natural gas reserves did not mean opposing the Government or the Reliance Industries Limited, the company that holds the licence to explore the gas reserves in the KG basin.

“Natural gas can be exported even to foreign countries but only after addressing the local needs,” he said. Quoting the oft-repeated statement that “India is rich but Indians are poor”, Prof. Balamohandas said it could be changed only when the country used its vast natural resources for its overall development. MLC K.S. Lakshmana Rao (Guntur) said that as per the theory of natural justice, people of KG basin had a right over the natural gas reserves, which could be used to develop industries in this region. “If we get our share in natural gas reserves, we need not spend Rs. 300 on a cooking gas cylinder refill. We can get it for just Rs. 100,” he said.

Mr. Rao, also a member of the JVV, said campaigns were launched simultaneously in Guntur, East Godavari and West Godavari districts, which would culminate in Hyderabad on November 7. Representatives of the JVV would meet Governor N.D. Tiwari and Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on that day and submit memoranda to them, asking them to ensure that the State got its due in the natural gas reserves.

MLC V. Balasubrahmanyam (Chittoor) felt that many people were unaware of the seriousness of the share in, natural gas due to the technical nature of the subject. “We’re taking the help of folk artistes to convey our message loud and clear to the masses,” he said, adding that songs had been penned on the subject with catchy folk tunes. JVV State secretary Velaga Srinivas, general secretary of Krishna district unit V. Murali Mohan and others were present.

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