Govt to have one stand on RIL-NTPC and RIL-RNRL issues: Moily

In the midst of controversy over gas pricing, the government today said that it would strive for an identical stand on litigation between power PSU NTPC and Mukesh Ambani-led RIL, and that between the group firms of two Ambani brothers.

"We will try to see that the government is one on NTPC-RIL and RIL-RNRL (group firms of Mukesh and younger sibling Anil) issues," law minister Veerappa Moily told reporters emerging from the meeting of group on ministers on the gas issue.

"He (petroleum minister Murli Deora) will issue a statement tomorrow," Moily said after an hour and a half-long meeting of the group convened by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The group was constituted to supervise the government's stand on the gas litigation between the Ambani brothers' group firms and that involving state power utility NTPC and RIL.

"We have not decided anything... Everything will be presented in the court," Moily said.

The group had met yesterday also, but the meeting had remained inconclusive.

While NTPC is fighting to get gas from RIL at a committed price of USD 2.34 per mmBtu, Anil Ambani group firm RNRL has dragged Reliance Industries for obtaining gas at the same price under a family settlement reached in 2005.