Crude Oil Reserves Found on Freedom Fighter's Land In UP; Farm Owners In 300km Radius May Strike Gold
By : Sandhya
On the property in Ballia that belonged to the family of independence warrior Chittu Pandey, a sizable crude oil resource was discovered. Following a three-month search in the Ganga basin, oil deposits at a depth of 3,000 meters were discovered. Pandey's family has leased six and a half acres to ONGC for three years at an annual rate of Rs 10 lakh.
The existence of oil deposits at this considerable depth was verified by ONGC personnel, requiring drilling down to 3,001 meters. With a daily water consumption of 25,000 liters, the excavation is moving quickly and should be finished by the end of April. If successful, comparable wells will be dug at other sites in the Ganga basin that have been identified, which might change the fortunes of the local farmers.
Neel Pandey, the landowner and descendant of Chittu Pandey, stated that ONGC had committed to paying Rs 10 lakh a year for three years, with a potential one-year extension. If oil is discovered, the farmers will profit immensely as ONGC would purchase nearby acreage at a premium. This 300-kilometer crude oil deposit extends from Phaphamau in Prayagraj to Sagar Pali village in Ballia.