Seismic survey in KG basin’s Eastern Offshore put on hold
As of now, there would be no restrictions on the fishing activity along the Kakinada coast, says Collector, adding that they would urge the State govt. to constitute an expert committee to assess the impact of the survey on the livelihood of fishers
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has put on hold a seismic survey, scheduled to be carried out between the first week of March and July 2024, in the KrishnaGodavariDWN98/2 block (ClusterII), 65 km off Kakinada coast in the Eastern Offshore.
In a meeting held here on March 11 (Monday) with the ONGC, Kakinada Deep Seaport and Anchorage Port authorities and the people’s representatives, Kakinada Collector Krithika Shukla said that the ONGC had not carried out the seismic survey as of now and there would be no restrictions on the fishing activity along the Kakinada coast. “We will soon request the Andhra Pradesh government to constitute an expert committee to assess the impact on the livelihood of the fisherfolk due to the proposed seismic survey,” said Ms. Krithika Shukla.
In a letter written to Deputy Director of Fisheries,
Kakinada in January, ONGC General Manager (ONGC Mumbai, Geophysical Services) R.E. Kadam said, “A seismic survey will be conducted in the water depth of 250 metre to 1,250 metre in the KGDWN98/2 (ClusterII) between the first week of March and July. The survey will be done by Norwaybased M/s. Shearwater Geo Services”. The Hindu has a copy of the letter.
According to the letter, two vessels—SW Bly (source vessel) and SW Tasman (node/receiver handling vessel)—were proposed to be deployed for the seismic survey in the KGDWN98/2 block. At least 54 node/receiver lines with an approximate length of 30km to 35 km each was proposed to be laid on the sea floor. “We request your cooperation to complete the survey on time by keeping the boats and nets away from the defined operational area during the notified period (March to July, 2024) to avoid any untoward incidents,” said the letter addressed to the Department of Fisheries. On Monday, Collector Krithika Shukla, SP S. Satish Kumar and ONGC official Sanjay Kumar told the fisherfolk and the people’s representatives that the survey had been put on hold.