JOIN US Union Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily, who took over as the new environment minister on Tuesday, denied having any conflict of interest between the two portfolios though several petroleum ministry projects are held up for want of green clearance.
“Everything has its space. Petroleum has its space and environment has its space. Ultimately, we have to go by the rules of the game which have been laid out by any ministry. We should not cross it. There should not be any fear or favour while discharging the duties,” Moily said brushing aside suggestions on any conflict of interest.
Some of the big ticket petroleum ministry projects, pending with the environment ministry, include Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited's new crude oil pipeline project from Chennai port to Manali in Tamil Nadu, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s gas project in Assam and the liquefied natural gas terminal in Mundra.