The Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited’s Parbatpur Gas Collecting Station (GCS) under Jharia Block on 12 July 2022. The foundation stone was laid along with the inauguration/foundation-stone laying of various other development projects worth over ₹16,800 crores in Deoghar, Jharkhand.

The event took place in the presence of the Governor of Jharkhand Shri Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Hemant Soren; Honourable Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, among other dignitaries. ONGC CMD Dr Alka Mittal was also present on the occasion.

Dignitaries on the dais for the inauguration/foundation-stone laying of development projects worth over ₹16,800 crores in Deoghar, Jharkhand

The foundation stone was laid digitally from the Deoghar airport (also launched during the event), and was broadcast live. Inclusive of the ONGC GCS, the associated development projects are expected to significantly boost infrastructural development, enhance connectivity and give an impetus to ease of living in the eastern region of the country.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressing the gathering at Deoghar

The ONGC Parbatpur Gas Collecting Station (GCS) will help catalyse a ‘gas-based economy’ in Jharkhand and its neighbouring states. With an estimated investment of ₹224 crores, the project will be completed by early 2024.

With its initial exploration work and drilling of four wells in Telgaria-Parbatpur basin, ONGC established the Coal Bed Methane (CBM) gas asset in an area of 6 sq. km. in CBM Block of Central Parbatpur in Jharia, Jharkhand. By 1 April 2006, the quantum of estimated CBM was about 9.19 Billion Cubic Metre (BCM).

Inauguration of ONGC’s Parbatpur Gas Collecting Station

For commencement of CBM production from this area, a project involving drilling of 14 horizontal multilateral wells and establishing a Gas Collecting Station (GCS) was undertaken at a cost of approximately ₹550 crores on 19 May 2006. The projects faced some challenges due to the presence of acute land acquisition problems and a coal mining block over-lapping the area.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating ONGC’s Parbatpur Gas collecting Station

After the inauguration/foundation-stone laying of the projects, Prime Minister Modi said that these projects, including the Clean Energy ones, will boost infrastructural development, enhance connectivity and giving an impetus to ease of living in the region. At the same time, the projects will help in significantly improving socio-economic prosperity in the region.