ONGC Plans Rs 8,110 Crore Investment for 172 Onshore Wells in Andhra Pradesh

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has received environmental clearance to invest Rs 8,110 crore in the development and production of oil and gas from 172 onshore wells across eight blocks in Andhra Pradesh. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change's Expert Appraisal Committee recommended the clearance, emphasizing strict adherence to environmental safeguards. ONGC will allocate Rs 172 crore for a capital Environment Management Plan and Rs 91.16 crore annually for its maintenance, along with Rs 11 crore committed towards public hearing obligations. The project will avoid drilling within 10 kilometers of the eco-sensitive Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, and no pipelines will be laid in forest or protected areas without proper approval. The committee mandated full implementation of all environmental management and risk mitigation recommendations detailed in the project's Environmental Impact Assessment and Management Plan. This initiative reflects a significant energy investment balanced with environmental protections in Andhra Pradesh.