The discovery of oil has been confirmed by the ONGC.
New Delhi: According to the reports coming in from Lucknow, vast oil reserves have been discovered on land owned by the family of Chittu Pandey, a well-known freedom fighter. The discovery of oil has been confirmed by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). The land is located in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. The discovery was made near Sagarpali village in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh after a three-month survey was carried out in the Ganga basin. The oil reserves were found at a depth of 3,000 metres.
This crude oil reserve spans an area of 300 km, from Sagar Pali village in Ballia to Phaphamau in Prayagraj.
Meanwhile, the ONGC has initiated exploration efforts and this project is likely to involve acquiring land from local farmers and ONGC has leased six-and-a-half acres from Pandey’s family for three years, paying Rs 10 lakh annually.
ONGC officials said that it will require drilling down to 3,000 metres and the excavation is using 25,000 litres of water daily and is progressing rapidly. The ongoing work is likely to be completed by April end.
ONGC has said that it plans to drill more wells in the 300-km crude oil belt extending from Sagarpali in Ballia to Phaphamau in Prayagraj. If the initial part is executed successfully then more wells could be drilled at other marked sites in the Ganga basin which will eventually benefit the farmers. Chittu Pandey’s descendant Neel Pandey who is the owner of the land stated ONGC’s assurance to pay Rs 10 lakh annually for three years, with a possible extension of one-year. If ONGC discovers oil, then it will acquire surrounding lands at high prices which will be a very profitable deal for the farmers.
As of April 2021, India had estimated crude oil reserves of 587.335 million metric tonnes. The major oil-producing regions include the western offshore area, Assam, and Gujarat.
The head of the commerce department in Ballia, Prof. Ashok Kumar Srivastava, said that this news is not only very good for Ballia but also for Purvanchal and surrounding areas. It will open new pathways for development and help end the oil crisis in India. Ballia is the easternmost area of Uttar Pradesh and the discovery of oil treasures in this area will increase employment opportunities for the unemployed. The economic condition of the villagers will improve and it will be a moment of pride for the entire nation.
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