Kolkata: Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Satyabrata Mookerjee has said Indian industries should make efforts to utilise huge gas reserves in Tripura and hinted that a pipeline could be built for bringing the gas from that state to West Bengal.

"It is often said that Bangladesh has huge gas reserves, Tripura too has large reserve and we should concentrate and find out ways to use the gas available in Tripura," Mookherjee said on June 12 night.

The country has a whole should explore possibilities to utilise the large amount of gas available in the North Eastern state, he said, adding, "If we can have pipeline from Middle East then why not from Tripura."

He was speaking at a presentation on the second International Exhibition and Conference titled India-Chem 2002 to be held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from September 18 to 21 next.

Mookerjee said India was fast emerging as a global power in chemicals industry because of strong knowledge base and it had the potential to set up research and development centres because of cost advantages and if mass exodus of intelligent people could be stopped.

To a question on steps being taken to bring natural gas from Bangladesh, the minister said it required political agreement in that country before any progress could be made in this direction. "Right now the ball is in their court," he said.

PTI