State-owned ONGC is working in Meghalaya to explore whether there are economically viable oil and gas deposits that can be exploited.
Speaking at a press conference here today, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameshwar Teli informed that his ministry, which oversees ONGC, is exploring places across India to find oil and gas.
With 83 per cent of oil purchased from abroad, Indians are affected by any global increases in prices. Producing more oil and gas domestically would protect consumers from price hikes, the Union minister of state said.
“We are exploring places, even in the North East,” Teli said, adding that ONGC’s work in Meghalaya has come to a halt because of the incessant rains of late.
One of the obstacles in this part of the country is that most land is privately owned. This issue, Teli said, is handled by the state government when it comes time to prospect for oil and gas deposits.