Lok Sabha Question No. 2387 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-08
Subject: Hydrocarbon Projects
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: M. Selvaraj

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2387

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 8 th  July, 2019

## Hydrocarbon Projects

## 2387. SHRI  M. SELVARAJ:

पेट्रोल ियम एवं प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री

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

- (a)  whether  it  is  true  that  the  Government  has  already  sanctioned  to  dig  274  wells  for Hydrocarbon projects between Kadalur to Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has consulted and taken the opinion of all stakeholders i.e. the Government,  farmers  of  these  areas,  National  Green  Tribunal  for  the  environmental clearance etc.;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has received any representations from farmers for digging of 274 wells for the said projects; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government  on  these representations?

## 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) to (f): Under Production Sharing contract regime, seven Blocks were awarded in state of Tamil Nadu in various rounds of New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP), out of which only two blocks are operational and the rest have been relinquished / proposed for relinquishment.  Under  Discovered  Small  Field  Bid  rounds,  two  contracts  were  awarded through International Competitive Bidding. Further, three Blocks were awarded under Open Acreage  Licensing  Policy.  As  per  contract  signed  with  the  operators,  three      exploratory wells are to be drilled in these three blocks as per the committed work programme. However the  operators  can  drill  more  appraisal  and  development  wells  on  finding  discovery.  The operators have submitted for approval of Terms of Reference (ToR) for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for drilling and testing of wells.

Before carrying out any drilling activity, Environmental Clearance (EC) 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. In addition, Consent to Operate is also obtained from State Pollution Control Board. During public hearing for EC, consultation is held with stakeholders, including  local  public.    Directions  of  National  Green  Tribunal  (NGT),  if  any,  are  complied with.  However, no consultations are held with NGT. The Contractors are required to obtain Petroleum  Exploration  License  (PEL)  /  Petroleum  Mining  Lease  (PML)  from  appropriate Government  before  commencing  any  exploration  /  drilling  or  production  activities.  In addition,  contractors  are  under  statutory  obligation  to  follow  provisions  of  relevant  central and  local  laws  including  environmental  laws,  forest  clearance,  wildlife  clearance,  land acquisition  as  well  as  to  comply  with  rules  /  regulations  pertaining  to  exploration  /  drilling activities. Representation has been received for cancellation of award of hydrocarbon exploration and production contracts in Tamil Nadu. The representations are dealt with in consultation with authorities concerned and as per the provisions of contract, as well as applicable rules,

regulations, laws, guidelines etc.

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