Exploration giant Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has got clearance from the Union ministry of environment and forest and the state authorities to start drilling for gas in the eco-sensitive zone of Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary in Gomati district in south Tripura, best known for its Indian Gaur (bison).
Disclosing this, ONGC Tripura asset manager Gautam Kumar Singha Roy on Friday said they have also got clearance from the National Wildlife Board—a body that green signals projects in eco-sensitive areas. A Supreme Court judgment, however, has questioned mining in the sanctuary to which ONGC has replied that they would be undertaking drilling operations and not mining. The state government is yet to clear this issue, said Singha Roy. Initially, ONGC had sought permission for drilling nine wells but were given permission for six by the ministry. “We are expecting clearance from the state government regarding the drilling of six wells and a pipeline. The ministry gave its nod after detailed scrutiny of technical and environmental issues,” he said.
There is a growing demand for natural gas in Tripura and ONGC wants to explore the reserve. Singha Roy said the drilling activity would be undertaken with utmost care because of the sensitive nature of the area. “There would be compensation for the loss if any, of biodiversity in accordance with the law. “Geographically, it’s a small area under exploration but the reserve has a promising quantity and exponentially productive,” he said.
The sanctuary has a large cover of vegetation, medicinal plants and wildlife species, including deer, golden langur, pheasants, and reptiles. Spread over an area of 163.08 square kilometers, the park was set up in 1988.
ONGC is targeting one-and-a-half years to complete the drilling task at a cost of Rs 1.50 billion. Earlier, ONGC had spent Rs 40 billion at the Khubal site in Panisagar in North Tripura but the level of gas found was not encouraging. ONGC had proposed a mega fertilizer plant worth Rs 50 billion with a Madhya Pradesh based group but finally, it did not materialize. Singha Roy said, “Last year, ONGC drilled as many as 25 wells and could harness gas at an optimum level thereby balancing demand and supply in Tripura.”
Highlighting the company’s green conservation initiatives, he said they gifted two electric buses worth Rs 2.4 million on Friday for ferrying tourists to the Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary near Agartala. The sanctuary is home to the clouded leopard and spectacle monkey. The zero-emission buses will run on chargeable batteries.
“We are encouraging the state government to go for complete conversion of vehicles to CNG and use of pipeline cooking gas considering the availability of gas. As per estimation, we could supply gas for the next hundred years but it would be difficult to supply gas to the big industries,” he added.
