Question : DRILLING RIGS OWNED BY ONGC

(a) the total number of drilling rigs owned by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for doing drilling works in the oil wells in the Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur Districts in Tamil Nadu:

(b) Whether these drilling rigs are being given to private players by the ONGC for doing drilling works instead of doing themselves in Vedaranyam and Mayiladuihurai areas in Tamil Nadu;

(c) If so, the main reasons therefore;

(d) the drilling units that have been done by the private players with the help oi` such drilling rigs of ONGC; and

(e) the amount spent so far through this?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a): Presently Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is operating six number of owned and ont charted hired onland rigs in Cauvery Asset based in the state of Tamil Nadu.

As far as areas of rig deployment in districts of Nagapanjnam and Thiruvarur in state of Tamil Nadu i concerned, a total of 3 ONGC owned rigs are deployed.

(b): No ONGC owned rig has been given to private players in Cauvery basin in Tamil Nadu.

(c) to (e): In view of the above, do not arise.