Lok Sabha Question No. 3529 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-15
Subject: Hydrocarbon Projects
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Geetha Viswanath Vanga, M. Selvaraj, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, A.K.P. Chinraj, Su Thirunavukkarasar

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3529

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 th  July, 2019

## Hydrocarbon Projects

## 3529.  SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

SHRI M. SELVARAJ:

SHRIMATI KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ:

SHRI SU. THIRUNAVUKKARASAR:

## पेट्रोल ियम एवं प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  hydrocarbon  projects  in  Andhra Pradesh including Kakinada and East Godavari districts, if so, the details thereof and the name of Entity to which the said project is awarded along with the manner in which digging of well is likely to be executed and the progress made so far;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  environmental  clearance  from  National Green Tribunal for the purpose, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether it is true that most of the agricultural fertile land became barren land and drinking  water  became  not  fit  for  human  consumption  due  to  digging  of  hydrocarbon wells and Methane projects in Tamil Nadu, if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  granted  hydrocarbon  exploration  projects  in  the Cauvery Delta region without 'Public Hearings' which is statutory mandated under EIA notification  2006,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  list  of projects granted so far without public hearing; and
- (e) whether the Government has granted hydrocarbon projects in Tamil Nadu in the Ecologically  Sensitive  Zones  like  mangrove  regions  and  fishing  grounds,  if  so,  the details thereof and whether the Environment Impact Assessment has been carried out before granting hydrocarbon projects in these zones and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## Answer

## पेट्रोल ियम एवं प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्रािय में मंत्री ( श्री धमेंद्र प्रधान )

## MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) & (b): Under  the  Production  Sharing  Contract  (PSC)  regime,  one  Pre-NELP (New Exploration Licensing Policy) and 3 NELP blocks have been awarded in the State of  Andhra  Pradesh,  out  of  which  only  two  NELP  blocks  are  operational  at  present. These blocks have been allocated to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India  Limited  (OIL).    For  carrying  out  any  exploration  and  development  activity, Environmental Clearance (EC) and Forest Clearance are mandatory. The Environment Impact  Assessment  (EIA)  is  pre-condition  for  obtaining  EC.  EIA  report  identifies environmental aspects and impacts arising out of the proposed  activity and proposes mitigation  measures.  During  public hearing for EC,  consultations are held with stakeholders, including local public.  Directions of National Green Tribunal (NGT), if any, are complied with.  However, no consultations are held with NGT.

- (c): No, Sir. Exploration and production activities are coexisting with agriculture not only in Tamil Nadu but in other parts of the country also.   Exploration and production activities  for  hydrocarbons  have  to  comply  with  Health,  Safety  and  Environment protection  related  statutory  guidelines.    These  clearances  are  obtained  from  different authorities.  Exploration and production activities in the Cauvery Delta region are limited to production of conventional oil and gas resources.  There are no Coal Bed Methane (CBM) /Shale gas activities going on in the State of Tamil Nadu.  Further, ONGC has been  carrying  Exploration  and  Production  activities  in  Tamil  Nadu  for  more  than  50 years and as such there is no adverse effect in respect of agriculture and ecology. (d)  &  (e):    Seven  Blocks  have  been  awarded  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  in  various rounds of New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP), out of which only two blocks are operational.    Two  Contracts  have  been  awarded  through  International  Competitive Bidding  under  Discovered  Small  Field  Bid  rounds  for  which  Petroleum  Mining  Lease (PML) is awaited from State Government.  Further, three Blocks were awarded under condition for obtaining Environmental Clearance by the Contractor before carrying out
- Open  Acreage  Licensing  Policy.    The  Environment  Impact  Assessment  (EIA)  is  preany exploration and production activity.

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