ONGC takes up soil survey to find oil in Malda

MALDA, 16 FEB: Malda could make it big if an ongoing survey by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation in the district strikes oil. Stationed at Gazole in Malda, an ONGC team has begun a survey in Malda, North Dinajpur and parts of Bihar for oil and gas reserves.The ONGC team today drilled some land at Ranikamat in Chanchal police station area as part of the survey. There is confusion, however, in the area due to lack of information on the matter at the administrative level. A local, Mr Gour Ghosh had actually objected to the survey on his land, as the ONGC workers had not sought his permission before drilling his land for the survey. The situation grew more confusing after the Chanchal SDO and BDO claimed they did not have official information about the survey. “I received information about the ongoing survey from the locals. I do not have any official information about it “, claimed the Chanchal SDO Mr Subho Mukherjee.The Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal, however, said that the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh had permitted the ONGC team to carry out the survey. According to the SP, the ONGC team, which is stationed at Gazole would hold surveys in Malda, North Dinajpur and parts of Bihar for oil and natural gas. The district magistrate was out of station on official work and not available for comment. The locals, however, continue to remain apprehensive and confused, as the ONGC team has exploded dynamites for its tests in the area. According to the locals, the ONGC officials had assured them compensation if the survey in any way affected crops. SNS