India: WB Cabinet Approves Land for ONGC for Further Oil Exploration

The West Bengal cabinet has approved giving 13.49 acres at Ashoknagar to ONGC for further oil exploration, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. Highlighting the advantages that the state will enjoy due to the oil exploration by the Maharatna company – from enhanced employment opportunities to improvement of its economy, Banerjee said the land will be given in exchange of only Re 1.

“ONGC wanted to give us Rs 65 million as salami. But the cabinet decided to give the land for Re 1 considering the economic advantages. “The state government cannot give away land free of cost. I will give that Re 1 to the state government as I want to contribute for the state and that the project should come up immediately,” Banerjee told reporters at the secretariat.

Salami is a payment by a tenant to the landlord for being allowed to take possession of the land under lease.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had on December 20 last year dedicated West Bengal’s first oil and gas producing field at Ashoknagar, about 47 km from Kolkata, to the nation. The extracted oil is being sent to Haldia refinery of Indian Oil Corporation.

Banerjee said the Cabinet also gave its nod to regularise all refugee colonies on land owned by the Centre and private agencies across the state for the past four decades, so that the people living there can avail pattas, various licenses and the facilities extended by the state government.