Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal defended the Centre’s decision to auction 67 discovered small oil and gas fields across the country, including 12 fields in Assam, in the face of protests in the state against the decision.
“We are greatly encouraged by the response we have received in the auctions of the fields and we plan to go ahead with it,” Minister of State (with Independent charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Mr. Pradhan said at an event.
“There is a shortage of production from the state-owned fields at the moment,” Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said while speaking at the same event. “To meet the local requirement of the state, this (the auctions) is essential.”
Twelve fieldsTheir comments come at a time when the decision to auction the 12 fields in Assam—currently owned by state-owned ONGC and OIL—to private players has come under criticism by regional parties like Asom Gana Parishad and the Bodoland Peoples Front, and peasant and student organisations like Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti and All Assam Students Union.
Mr. Sonowal also asked ONGC Chairman and Managing Director D.K. Sarraf to try to increase production from the company’s oil fields in Assam. “If you increase production, then not only will you benefit, but so will Assam due to the increased royalties,” Mr. Sonowal said.
For his part, Mr. Sarraf, also present at the function, said that ONGC has implemented several schemes to increase production in Assam, and has also increased exploration activities in the state.
