Petroleum Minister responds to Sushmita Dev’s letter; “ONGC not to divert Srikona rig”

Since October last year, dark clouds were floating over the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s (ONGC) Srikona rig in Cachar district. There were reports that ONGC is planning to divert the rig to some other part of the state. On November 7, 2018, member of Parliament, Silchar, Sushmita Dev had written a letter to Dharmendra Pradhan, minister Petroleum and Natural Gas, Skill development and Entrepreneurship, government of India, expressing her concerns.

Yesterday, Pradhan responded to Dev’s letter stating, “Please refer to you letter dated 7.11.2018 regarding issues related to ONGC Assam Arakan Fold Belt Exploratory Asset (AAFBEA) Silchar, district Cachar.”

“The matter has been examined in consultation with ONGC. ONGC has informed that, due to geographical terrain, Silchar asset has been facing difficulties in land acquisition / taking up drilling activities. Silchar asset has now confirmed the availability of a few drilling locations. Therefore, ONGC has decided not to divert any rig from Silchar for the time being.”