GSI to look for coal reserves in Tripura

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has undertaken a diverse study after a coal-like substance was found in Tripura, an official said here Thursday.

"Workers while digging earth for road construction recently found large coal-like substances at Thakukchuracherra village (under Gandacherra sub-division in northern Tripura)," Gandacherra sub-divisional magistrate Bhaskar Dasgupta told IANS.

He said: "I and the Dhalai district magistrate Milind Ramteke then approached the GSI. A four-member team of GSI started wide-ranging studies Wednesday to confirm the coal reserves in the mountainous areas (165 km north of here)."

The official, who also accompanied the GSI team, said the GSI would submit its report within a month.

Dasgupta said the coal-like substances found so far seemed to be mature coal and it was certain that there were huge coal reserves in the area, bordering Bangladesh.

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) owns significant natural gas reserves in Tripura. Since 1975, the ONGC has drilled 165 wells in Tripura, of which 79 wells are yielding gas in 11 gas fields.

In every two wells drilled by ONGC in Tripura, gas was found in one well -- across the world, gas is found in one well in every five drilled --making the ONGC strike rate in Tripura the highest in the world.