AGARTALA, Nov 7 - Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy on Monday strongly batted for a common natural gas grid among three neighbouring countries � India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
While speaking in an international conference on Present and Future of Natural Gas : Challenges and Opportunities in NE India at Prajna Bhavan here, the Governor said Tripura, Bangladesh and Myanmar have tremendous gas reserves.
�I have heard that some countries have common oil pipeline for mutual benefit. If this kind of arrangement is possible, we must have similar kind of gas grid covering NE India, Bangladesh and Myanmar�, he said.
Noting that India and Bangladesh are enjoying best mutual understanding, Roy said North East particularly Tripura has good amount of gas reserve. �We must focus on exploration to discover more gas reserve for the welfare of the country�, he said. The Governor said NE would be benefitted by the connectivity boost with neighbouring Bangladesh.
ONGC Tripura Asset Manager SC Soni said the ONGC would continue to intensify exploration drive in Tripura for better prospect. �We will do more as far as exploration drive is concerned. The ONGC has already allocated Rs 5,500 crore for boosting exploration in Tripura�, he said.
Anil Kumar Saikia, secretary of SECONE, a Guwahati based NGO said the Centre has already initiated a process of ambitious plan � Hydrocarban Vision 2030 to give a major fillip to the exploration and use of natural gas in NE.
�If the plan is transformed into reality, both oil and gas production will be doubled in the region. This will attract industry people�, he said.
