Chandikhol: The Centre had announced to set up an underground reserve for crude oil in Chandikhol area of Jajpur district in 2017. Although five years have passed since the announcement, the ambitious project has not started till date.
As its land acquisition is yet to start, locals and various outfits have expressed doubts over execution of the project, a report said.
After the announcement of the project and its approval by the Centre, it had generated a lot of hope among people in the district for employment.
However, with no progress in sight, hopes of people have petered out. According to reports, Chandikhol crude oil reserve project with a capacity of 4,500 million tonne was proposed at foothills of Dankari under Dharmasala tehsil limits.
The central government has allocated Rs 6,500 crore for the project after the Cabinet approval June 27, 2018. Thereafter, 400 acres of land were identified for the project.
It was stated by the Centre that employment for 4,000 people would be created in five years. A high level delegation from the Union petroleum ministry had visited the area and assured that the work would start soon.
But nothing has happened till date. As part of the project, an underground pipeline was to be laid from Paradip to Dankari, apart from a bore well in the sea.
Over 20 black stone quarries which were earlier operational within 10km radius of the identified site were shut, following approval of the ambitious project.
The mega oil reserve is capable of storing 4,500 million tonne crude oil. In case of emergency in the country, the oil reserve can meet the fuel requirements of the people for 10 days, it was stated.
The fate of the project looked bright when Dharmendra Pradhan held the oil, natural gas and petroleum portfolio. Locals are now skeptical about the project as the new minister may not push for the project in Odisha.
Earlier, Pradhan had accused the state government of delaying handover of land for the project. Till date, no efforts have been made to acquire the land for the project.
On the other hand, over 20 illegal stone mines were operational in the project area. This is another reason for people to doubt the fate of the ambitious project.
Earlier, a central team comprising the joint secretary of Union Petroleum Ministry and three others had visited Dankari hill in May 2018. Following this, the Chief Secretary had ordered permanent closure of the quarries March 20, 2018.
However, the local tehsildar had pointed out that the state government would lose about Rs 1,413.86 crore if the quarries in the area are closed.
Despite this, the leaseholders were issued notice to close all quarries in conformity with the order of then Chief Secretary in 2018 April 12. The central government had requested the state government to provide 400 acres for the purpose.
A social activist had appealed to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as a stone quarry in the area was not shut. The NGT had asked the state government to submit an investigation report in this connection.
PNN