(a) whether attention of the Government has been drawn to the news-item published in the daily Punjab Keshari date 16-11-2004 under the caption “Tel Gas Ayog Main Arbon rupayen ka ghotalaâ€
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether oil exploration was taken up in Jammu region but was later abondoned;
(d) if so the reasons thereof; and
(e) the details of the total amount spent on oil exploration under various heads?
Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj (Shri Mani Shanker Aiyar)
(a) & (b): Yes Sir, as mentioned in the article a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Jammu & Kashmir High Court. The same has been received by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) which is being defended. The next date of hearing is on 6th December, 2004. The matter is subjudice.
(c) & (d): Yes Sir, ONGC had taken up exploration activities in Jammu Region in the State of Jammu & Kashmir since 1957. As on 1.10.2004, ONGC’s total exploratory efforts includes geological surveys of 22,970 Square Kilometers Gravity Magnetic survey of 6,426 Stations, 2D seismic survey of 2,562 Ground Line Kilometers and exploratory drilling of 4 wells viz. Surinsar-1 & 2 (located on Surinsar-Mastgarh structure in Jammu foothills) and Narbal-1 & Chattergam-1 (in Kashmir Valley). No hydrocarbons were encountered in the drilled wells.
Currently, ONGC is carrying out exploration activties in Poonch-Rajauri Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) area in the State of Jammu & Kashmir, covering an area of 1,050 Square Kilometer in the Poonch and Riasi districts in the State.
(e): Since inception, expenditure of Rs. 52.74 crore has been made by ONGC towards exploratory drilling for hydrocarbons in the Jammu Region till 31.03.2004. In addition, capital expenditure of Rs. 9.75 crore has also been incurred by ONGC towards fixed Assets (NET) and inventories till 31.03.2004. However, the expenditure incurred on survey activities for exploration of hydrocarbons in the Jammu Region is not maintianed separately and is accounted together with the survey expenditure incurred in the entire Frontier Basin which covers the areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Uttranchal, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh. The total expenditure incurred in the basin till 31.03.2004 is Rs. 365.88 crore.