The seminar was held by the University of Democracy Foundation, with reference to the exploration of oil and natural gas reserves from the Krishna Godavari Basin, including both onshore and offshore operations.
Oil Production in KG Basin
Kakinada: Several speakers at a seminar here on Sunday felt the central government should allocate to AP a reasonable share of oil and natural gas that it gets from the sea here, to speed up the state’s development.
Some 50 per cent of the royalty or share in the taxes paid to the Union Government on the offshore explorations must be paid to the concerned states as per the recommendations of the 12th finance commission headed by C Rangarajan, they felt.
The seminar was held by the University of Democracy Foundation, with reference to the exploration of oil and natural gas reserves from the Krishna Godavari Basin, including both onshore and offshore operations.
The seminar passed resolutions against allowing private corporate monopoly in the exploration of oil and gas natural resources and sought dedicated supply of natural gas to the industries and to households through pipeline in Andhra Pradesh, in particular those in the Godavari region.
The speakers said petro chemical refineries must be established in the KG Basin area (Godavari districts) and there was a need to provide development and employment opportunities to the youth.
A call was also made for adoption of the Nagaram village for development and establishment of a 100-bed hospital there as per the promise given by GAIL in the aftermath of the pipeline blast.
Another call was for regular yearly payment of lease amount to the farmers who gave their lands to GAIL as well as Reialiance Industries during the period of continuance of the pipelines system.
Another call was to these entities to provide infrastructure for the institutions of education, skill development etc and health care facilities in all the districts under the KG Basin Area through CSR fund allocations for the region’s all-round development.
Participating as chief guest, the former adviser to the central government, YVS Mahadev, has alleged that corporate companies are looting natural gas, oil and mineral wealth from the Krishna Godavari basin in Andhra Pradesh. He said the governments should protect the rights of the people of AP in this respect.
The KG Basin has more oil reserves than Bombay High, he said, adding that the world's largest oil field is in Andhra Pradesh. He expressed his concern that “corporate companies are grabbing oil reserves worth `60 lakh crore.”
The KG Basin has more oil reserves than Bombay High, he said, adding that the world's largest oil field is in Andhra Pradesh. He expressed his concern that “corporate companies are grabbing oil reserves worth `60 lakh crore.”
He said, “Under the open licensing policy, the governments are palming off natural resources to corporate companies. These companies are are taking away natural wealth of the order of `2.50 lakh crore annually.”
“Under Articles 38 and 39B of the Indian Constitution, 30 per cent of the earnings thereof should be spent on the development of the area from which natural resources are extracted, but in practice, such spend is zero. If this continues, 40,000 acres of land in the Konaseema region will become unproductive and turn into saline lands,” Mahadev warned.
“Under Articles 38 and 39B of the Indian Constitution, 30 per cent of the earnings thereof should be spent on the development of the area from which natural resources are extracted, but in practice, such spend is zero. If this continues, 40,000 acres of land in the Konaseema region will become unproductive and turn into saline lands,” Mahadev warned.
Presiding over the seminar, organising secretary Prof Alapati Srinivas said, “All natural resources are being transferred to the western regions without allocation of funds for the development of Andhra region.”
He said state resources are being transferred without providing jobs and employment to the people of Andhra region.
He said state resources are being transferred without providing jobs and employment to the people of Andhra region.
“Even though 22 people died in a gas pipeline blast at Nagaram village, the victims and the people of the surrounding areas have not received any compensation so far,” he said.
CPI leader Nageswara Rao said the seminar was organised for the conservation of natural resources. He alleged that corporates are earning “lakhs of crores” while the state government’s debt burden is growing.
He said that, in Kakinada, the people are afraid that “if a building is constructed, it will sink into the ground.” Companies like GAIL and ONGC have not fulfilled their promises of building 100-bed hospitals, he noted.
Another speaker, Akkineni Vanaja said students should enter politics to force the governments to change their wrong policies. She said that in Munagayalanka, the government has decided to take away thousands of acres of land from the farmers to handover those to the Vedanta company, but activist parties raised awareness among the farmers and prevented it. “The mineral wealth in India is the property of the people and every citizen has the responsibility to protect this property.”
Advocate Jawahar Ali, farmers' union vice president Dega Prabhakar, Prof G Abbayyiah, CPI leader T Madhu, STU leader Subba Raju, Subbaraju Jalem Subbarao, Rajendraprasad, Super Bazaar chairman Pesangi Adinarayana and others were present.
CPI leader Nageswara Rao said the seminar was organised for the conservation of natural resources. He alleged that corporates are earning “lakhs of crores” while the state government’s debt burden is growing.
He said that, in Kakinada, the people are afraid that “if a building is constructed, it will sink into the ground.” Companies like GAIL and ONGC have not fulfilled their promises of building 100-bed hospitals, he noted.
Another speaker, Akkineni Vanaja said students should enter politics to force the governments to change their wrong policies. She said that in Munagayalanka, the government has decided to take away thousands of acres of land from the farmers to handover those to the Vedanta company, but activist parties raised awareness among the farmers and prevented it. “The mineral wealth in India is the property of the people and every citizen has the responsibility to protect this property.”
Advocate Jawahar Ali, farmers' union vice president Dega Prabhakar, Prof G Abbayyiah, CPI leader T Madhu, STU leader Subba Raju, Subbaraju Jalem Subbarao, Rajendraprasad, Super Bazaar chairman Pesangi Adinarayana and others were present.
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