NEW DELHI, Sept 27 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has called on petroleum companies to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to the tea gardens of the State.
Stating that tea production in the State has been severely hit by shortage of gas, the Chief Minister said that ONGC, OIL and GAIL must take immediate steps for adequate supply of gas to the tea gardens.
Sonowal�s meeting with executives of the oil companies came within weeks of his meeting with CMDs of OIL, ONGC and Petroleum Secretary, when he made a similar appeal to resume gas supply to tea gardens.
Reiterating the Navaratna and Maharatna Companies� role in maintaining gas production in the State, Chief Minister Sonowal said that around 10 lakh population spread across 1.5 lakh big and small tea gardens are dependent on the tea industry. Currently, it is the peak season for tea production in Assam and continued shortage in supply of gas will adversely affect the State�s economy as well, he said.
Sonowal also urged all the petroleum companies to raise their production and sought their full cooperation for augmenting tea and other industries in Assam. He requested the companies to find out the causes of leakages in gas supply chain and take steps for optimum utilisation of the same. He said that gas-based industries of Assam like BCPL will be hugely benefited by this and it will further help in the growth of ancillary industries.
The meeting was attended by Assam Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, MP Rameswar Telli, MLAs from Sadia, Lahowal, Tingkhong and Margherita apart from Additional Secretary of Petroleum Ministry, and officials of ONGC, OIL and GAIL.