The Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas PanabaakaLakshmi informed the Lok Sabha that as per the directives of Cabinet Committee on Investments (CCI), meetings are being held to resolve the issue of Ministryof Defence (MoD) placing restrictions on exploration and development activities in respect of 39 exploration blocks in offshore areas including Krishna-Godavari and Mahanadi basins, subsequent to the grant of Petroleum Exploration License (PEL).
These blocks were awarded to different companies under various bidding rounds of Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP). She further emphasized the matter has been taken up by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG)with Ministry of Defence (MoD)and other concerned agencies at various levels.
Further, the same was discussedby the Cabinet Committee on Investments (CCI) in its meeting held on 30.01.2013. The CCI has directed Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and National Security Advisor to further discuss the issue with MoP&NG and MoD and apprise progress to CCI in a monthÂ’s time.
She explained that as on 31.03.2012 an investment to the tune of $13.28 billion has been made by the Contractor(s) for carrying out exploration and development activities in 39 affected blocks.
MoD had placed restrictions on account of strategic and security related considerations.
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