Centre specifies exploration period for ONGC

Agartala, May 15: The Forest and Environment ministry has terminated the exploration proposal of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) along Mahanadi offshore, company sources said today.

Propelled by opposition from environmental activitists, the Centre had allowed ONGC to accomplish offshore drilling work for five months during dry spell.

Considering both environmental and financial aspects, the Centre alloted a few hectares land along West Bengal territory.

Official sources said the ONGC had planned to carry out shallow water exploration across Mahanadi and almost all the equipment were transported in the area last year but 'Green Peace', an NGO had opposed the move to save the marine life.

According to the NGO, Mahanadi offshore especially Sagardeep island is the home to rare Olive Ridleys Turtles and monsoon is the breeding period of the species.

'' If ONGC continues it's exploration during monsoon, the breeding process of this rare aquatic life will be disturbed while the waste will affect the marine ecology,'' the organisation pointed out.

Following the objection, the ministry had conducted study on the marine life status with the officials of the ministry as well as ONGC and Green Peace.

Subsequent to the study report, the ministry had allowed ONGC to conduct exploration between November and March every year.

It further asked ONGC to set up a water window during drilling work, which would be used as passage by the Ridleys.

UNI