Environmental Impact Assessment Report On Development Drilling of 40 wells in KG Basin in East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna districts of A.P. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (A Govt. of India Enterprise), Rajahmundry Asset Rajahmundry-533106 Corporate Health Safety and Environment Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) 8th Floor, SCOPE Minar, South Tower, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi-110092 2014 Environmental Impact Assessment Report On Development Drilling of 40 wells in KG Basin in East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna districts of A.P. 2014 Authors Dr. J. S. Sharma GM (Chem)- Head Environment, CHSE V.R.K.S. Sarma DGM (Chem)-Head Asset HSE V.K. Sharma AEE (Environment)- Asset HSE Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (A Govt. of India Enterprise), Rajahmundry Asset Rajahmundry-533106 Corporate Health Safety and Environment Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) 8th Floor, SCOPE Minar, South Tower, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi-110092 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The publication of this document was made possible with the constant encouragement, continual support and guidance of Shri N.K. Verma, Director (Exploration), Shri M.C. Das, GGM-Chief CHSE and Shri P.K. Rao, ED-Asset Manager Rajahmundry Asset. Shri S. Gururajan GM (M), Shri P.R. Bhavana, GM (Geology), Dr. M. Ramakrishna, DGM (Geology), Shri N.S.R.Murthy DGM (Chem), Shri P.T. Rao, CE (Drilling), Shri M. K. Das, Senior Geologist, Shri I.M. Jamir, EE (Reservoir), Smt. Y. Satyavathi, Asst. Supdt and Shri A. Subbarao, Attendant grade II are gratefully acknowledged for their valuable support and inputs. Issues raised during Public Hearings in respect of proposed Development Drilling activities in Godavari Onland and West Godavari PML blocks in the three districts viz. East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna. 1. Issues raised at Public Hearing at Kaikaluru, Krishna District S.L. Issue Issue raised by Reply by the ONGC to the No. specific issue 1 Land Subsidence a. Prof. G. Krishna Subsidence may be due to . Rao, Retd. Prof. of groundwater exploitation in these Geology, Andhra areas. University The Sub-committee, constituted by the Visakhapatnam. Ministry of Environment and Forests b. Sri Mente (MOEF), made the observations that Someswara Rao, land subsidence has been reported Krishna Godavari and observed in the areas where Deltala Parirakshan extensive extraction of underground Samithi. water has been carried out. Oil and c. Sri. Gopala Krishna gas reservoirs have limited aerial Raju, Krishna extents and therefore not prone to Godavari Deltala subsidence. Parirakshan ONGC has outsourced the work to Samithi. investigate indications of Land Subsidence due to Hydrocarbon Exploration in KG-PG Basin to Delta Studies Institute, Andhra University. Notification of Award and Scope of Work for Hiring of Services to investigate indications of Land Subsidence due to Hydrocarbon Exploration in KG-PG Basin has been attached as Annexure F in this report 2 Intrusion of a. Sri. Gopala Krishna Groundwater salinity is not due to any Saline water in Raju, Krishna leakage of hydrocarbons and their agricultural fields Godavari Deltala associated produced water from the and ground water production wells. Production wells are Parirakshan constructed with many layers of casing Samithi. pipes with outer most one covering the b. Prof. G.Krishna shallow aquifers up to sufficient depths Rao, Retd. Prof. of and it protects the groundwater from Geology, Andhra any leakage effects. Ground water University contaminated wells are quite away Visakhapatnam. from the production wells. Even if there is contamination, it could be a local phenomenon and cannot be widespread as the aquifers are generally highly localized due to deltaic sedimentation pattern. Intrusion of seawater in the tube wells is due to over exploitation of groundwater. Seawater percolates into the inland parts from the seacoast. According to the Sub-committee‟s observations some studies have suggested extensive aquaculture could be a factor for groundwater salinity in the area. 3 Extracted gas is a. Sri C Venugopala ONGC is not exporting Gas to other transported to Rao, Rytu states from its operational areas in Gujarat and other Samakya Rajahmundry Asset. states. b. Sri Ghantasala Venkata Subbaraju, Sarpanch, Chatakaya Panchayat c. R. Ratnakar Rao, Advocate, Kaikaluru. 4. Request for a. R. Ratnakar Rao, Welfare projects are being taken up by employment of Advocate, ONGC as per the CSR policy in and youth and Kaikaluru. around the operational areas. establishment of In addition to the above, special ITI, Fisheries component plans for SC/ST community college, is being aided under the aegis of Polytechnic etc. ONGC CSR spending by Rajahmundry Asset in East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna District for the last four financial years i.e. 2010-2014 has been attached as Annexure G in this report 5. Sea a. Prof. G. Krishna Sea encroachment and Coastal Encroachment Rao, Retd. Prof. of Erosion can be attributed to global and Coastal Geology, Andhra warming and sea level rise effect. Erosion University Visakhapatnam. 2. Issues raised at Public Hearing at Penugonda, West Godavari District Sl. Issues Issue raised by Reply by the ONGC to the No. specific issue 1 Regarding Sri Chinnam The Asset Manager, ONGC who is the authorized person Ramireddy,, Farmer, 1st person, is responsible. Farmers for attending the Chinnamvaripalem can address a letter to the Asset grievances of the village & Chinnam Manager for redressal of any grievance farmers. Gerata Reddy, of the farmers. Farmer, Cherukota Village 2 Regarding land Sri Chinnam Land acquisition is carried under the acquisition, land Ramireddy, Farmer, supervision of the Special Grade compensation & Chinnamvaripalem Deputy Collector and compensation leftover land Village, Sri Chinnam package is given as per his beside land Gerata Reddy, recommendations based on the Acts acquired. Cherukota Village & and Rules on land acquisition. Sri Ch. Venugopal, However, compensation can be paid Vijayawada. on 10% extra land in case of partial land left over to the farmer during acquisition, which is under the scope of the Asset Manager, ONGC at Rajahmundry. 3 Regarding Sri Chinnam If Oil and Gas reserves are found to handover of the Ramireddy, Farmer, be economically viable to draw, acquired lands and Chinnamvaripalem then land of 30 m X 30 m is obstruction for Village, Sri Chinnam sufficient for their activities and drains and Canals Gerata Reddy, remaining acquired land will be due to approach Cherukota Village handed over to the farmer after road to the well restoration of the land. If the platform area. reserves of Gas or Oil are unviable in the Well , then they close the well completely and handover the land to the land owner after land restoration. However in some cases, the farmer is given compensation for restoration on his request as some of them are proposed to establish to any activity like poultry farms etc. Drains and Canals are diverted by providing hume pipes in laying the approach roads to avoid obstruction to the drains / canal flow to the downstream area. They are not forcing the farmers in land acquisition. If any well falls in the land of farmers who are not interested to give their land to ONGC, they are adopting latest technology by drilling that well from other areas without causing any inconvenience to that farmer. 4 Regarding Sri Chinnam All these 8 wells will be taken up by proposing for Ramireddy, Farmer, ONGC only and not outsourced to any drilling of 8 wells in Chinnamvaripalem private oil drilling company as ONGC is Chinnamvaripalem Village, a Public Sector Company and even though one requested not to make any well was apprehensions against the ONGC. abandoned earlier. 5 Regarding drilling Farmer from Only one rig is proposed to be of 8 wells in Chinnamvaripalem established in one location only and 8 Chinammvaripale wells to be drilling from this location m which would with single rig, so as to take only 5-6 affect the village if Acres instead of 40 Acres (i.e. 5 Acres they acquired land / location X 8 locations) even though it for 8 wells. is costly for ONGC than establishing individual drilling locations at 8 places. This proposal is being adopted to save the fertile lands and also to save the Environment. 6 Regarding action Sri T. Rama Reddy, ONGC is informing the well drilling taken by ONGC Penugonda Village information to the nearest police during carrying of station. Revenue Authorities and local drilling activities. bodies in the village. 7 Regarding Sri Chinnam Venkata ONGC is restoring the approach restoration of Ramireddy, Farmer, roads after completion of project approach roads. Eletipadu & Sri work to its original status. ONGC V.Bharadwaja, laying the roads to the original Achanta Village status i.e. Blacktop, after using the existing village roads for their vehicles after completion of the project. ONGC has given a commitment to strengthen the existing roads before starting their project so as to move their heavy vehicles. 8 Regarding Sri V. Chandra, ONGC are taking agreement from the developments of Journalist owners of the land acquired that the House layouts in acquired land should not be used for acquired land. other purpose viz., for development of house layouts etc. 9 Compensation to Sri V. Bharadwaja, ONGC agreed to give compensation to the rodent affected Achanta Village; the rodent affected farmers as per the farmers of the Chinnam Ramireddy, recommendation of the Spl. Grade lands surrounding Chinnamvaripalem & Deputy Collector. They proposed to the well platform Chinnam Gerata take measures to control rodent area. Reddy, Cherukota menace. 10 Regarding Prof. G. Krishna Rao, The earth is with different layers. Groundwater Retired Professor of The ground water table is available Pollution & Salt Geology, Andhra in the aquifer with varying depths at water intrusion into University & Sri M. different locations, may be ranging ground water: Krishnam Raju, from 10ft to 500 ft depth from Krishna Godavari Coastal area to upland areas.