Kakinada, Aug 13th: The Telugu Desam Activists of East Godavari District organized a protest demonstration at the district collectorate on Thursday demanding to give preference to local needs in the utilization of KG basin gas. They demanded for the allotment of gas for the local needs first before extending supplies to Gujarat, Maharashtra and other states. A large number of party activists and leaders participated in the demonstration.

Addressing the gathering, former minister, Mr. Chikkala Ramachandra Rao, demanded setting up of a gas grid with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Cairn, GSPC and Reliance and a major share to Andhra Pradesh as the gas is being produced here. Former MLA, Mr. Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao alleged that the present situation arose because of lack of representation on the issue to central government by the MPs from Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Amalapuram.

District TD president and MLC, Mr. N. Chinnarajappa and other leaders also spoke. A representation was submitted to the district collector, Mr. Gopala Krishna Dwevedi with a demand to supply cooking gas at Rs 100 per 14.2 kgs. Earlier the party activists organized a rally from the TD office to the collectorate.