(a) whether the Union Government has considered cancelling the bids called for
Hydrocarbon extraction in the Protected Agricultural Zone in Tamil Nadu, as requested
by the State Government of Tamil Nadu; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor including the legal basis
for doing such extraction which is prohibited under the Tamil Nadu Protected
Agricultural Zone Act, 2020?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
(SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)
(a) & (b): The Government of India has launched Discovered Small Fields Bid
Round-III (DSF-III) on 10th June 2021, offering 32 Contract Areas comprising 75
discoveries spread over approx. 13,204 sq. km acreage across the country for
extraction of hydrocarbons. This comprises of one Contract Area with two Petroleum
Mining Lease (PML) of Vadatheru and Ramanathapuram covering Pudukkottai and
Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu. PML for these areas were granted in
Dec.2007 and Nov’2012 respectively. Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) and PML
are granted under ‘Oilfields (Regulation & Development) Act, 1948’ and the
‘Petroleum & Natural Gas Rules, 1959’ by the State Government for on shore areas.
No extraction is taking place now.
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