Lok Sabha Question No. 382 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: Hydrocarbon Wells
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 382 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  June, 2019 Hydrocarbon Wells

## 382. SHRI A. RAJA:

पैट्रोलियम व प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the hydrocarbon wells to be drilled across the country, State/ UT-wise including Tamil Nadu;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  funds  likely  to  be  invested  for  these  drills  across  the  country including Tamil Nadu;
- (c)  whether  this  drilling  activity  is  likely  to  affect  the  soil  substrata  and  change  the characteristics of the coastline especially in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether some of the States including Tamil Nadu have objected to these drillings in their areas; and
- (e)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

## पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री ( श्री धमेन्द्र प्रधान )

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) & (b) The details of the hydrocarbon wells to be drilled across the country in year 2019-20, State/ UT-wise including Tamil Nadu and funds likely to be invested for these drills is as under:

| State             |   Wells to be drilled (no.) |
|-------------------|-----------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh    |                          28 |
| Assam             |                          83 |
| Arunachal Pradesh |                           2 |
| Rajasthan         |                         107 |
| Madhya Pradesh    |                           2 |
| Gujarat           |                         232 |
| Tripura           |                          21 |
| Jharkhand         |                          24 |
| West Bengal       |                           2 |
| Tamil Nadu        |                          23 |
| Offshore          |                         181 |
| Total             |                         705 |

An approximate amount of ₹31,996 crores is likely to be invested for drilling of these wells.

(c) Before  carrying  out  any  drilling  activity,  Environmental  Clearance  (EC)  from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is mandatory. The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is pre-condition for obtaining EC. EIA report identifies  environmental  aspects  and  impacts  arising  out  of  the  proposed  drilling project and proposes mitigation measures.

(d) & (e) In Tamil Nadu some local people/organizations have filed petition in National Green  Tribunal  (NGT)  against  the  exploration  and  production  activities  in  the  area. Exploration  activities  are  on  hold  in  State  of  Nagaland  in  absence  of  permission  of State Government. Government of Union Territory of Puducherry has also expressed their inability to grant permission  for  carrying out the Exploration activities in Puducherry and Karaikal region citing opposition of local peoples.  ONGC  in collaboration with local administration disseminated information through various local media to allay  the  fears  of  people  about  environmental  degradation.  Clarification  to various  misconceptions  on  Methane/Shale  Gas,  depletion/pollution  of  ground  water, effect  on  agricultural  land,  intricacies  of  Exploration  and  Production  (E&P) activities, technologies,  statutory  requirements  etc.  were  provided  to  State  Government  and local people.

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