Exploration of Oil to begin soon in Meghalaya; gas pipeline for Shillong and other NE states
Meghalaya is a potential oil and natural gas source for the Center. The Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Rameswar Teli, announced that exploration for oil and natural gas will commence soon in Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland as well.
While responding to a question about rising fuel and LPG prices in the country, he said, "We have come to know that there is oil and gas in some places in these states."
According to Teli, India imports 83% of its oil and gas, and the Center is compelled to raise the price of gasoline and LPG when market prices rise.
"I'm a citizen, and I want the prices to go down, too," the minister added. "But we are forced to change pricing as and when foreign prices go up."
He claimed that there are significant oil and gas reserves in the Northeast, and that further development might reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil imports and help keep prices under control.
Additionally, Teli stated that gas pipelines would be built throughout all of the Northeastern states. He stated that the joint venture of Indian Oil, ONGC, GAIL, Oil India, and Numaligarh Refinery, Indradhanush Gas Grid Ltd, would carry out the project to build the gas pipeline. "Meghalaya is also included in this project. This pipeline would go all the way to Shillong, therefore we want to get to work right away," Teli said.
He stated that recently, bids were called for five blocks, but Meghalaya was left out and that bids for the state would be forthcoming.
In the East Khasi Hills' Umphniang village close to Dangar, Oil India Limited's (OIL) research division found a thermogenic gas deposit with a high methane content the previous year. The team had gone to the location to gather samples from a rumoured gas seepage when they made the discovery.
The government was requested to look into the accusations that crude oil is spewing out of the earth in a few communities along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
During the general discussion on the state's regulation of the price of gasoline and diesel, Congress lawmaker Hima Shangpliang stated, "People have claimed that crude oil is leaking out of the ground in a few villages in Mawsynram (his district)."
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