ONGC not to shift operations out of Assam: govt

There is no question of ONGC shifting its operations out of Assam, government said in Lok Sabha today dubbing apprehensions in this regard as "rumours".

Replying to a question on gas exploration in the north eastern region, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Jitin Prasada categorically denied the suggestion calling them "rumours" and asserting that there was "no question" of ONGC shifting out of Assam.

Besides carrying out its primary activities, he said the state-owned oil company, along with the others, were carrying out several welfare activities in the state and the entire region.

While ONGC was supplying gas at cheap rates to local people, it was also involved in educational and health care activities in the region, Prasada said, adding that computer training centres had been opened in Guwahati and Nazira by the company.

He said ONGC, state-owned Oil India Limited and private and joint venture companies were carrying out exploration work in the northeastern states.

Crude oil production in these states had gone up from 4.784 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2004-05 to 4.873 MMT in 2009-10, Prasada added.