Vedanta Gets Conditional Nod to Drill 20 Onshore Oil and Gas Wells in AP

The Andhra Pradesh government has recently given a conditional No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Vedanta Ltd’s Cairn Oil & Gas division, allowing it to drill 20 onshore oil and gas wells in the Krishna district of the state. This is part of a broader plan to explore and produce hydrocarbons, and substances like oil and natural gas that are vital for energy and industry.

Vedanta had originally asked for permission to drill at 35 different locations inside the proposed block, but after careful review, the government agreed to clear only 20 spots. One major consideration during the review was that the Bandar Canal, an important irrigation waterway in the region, runs through the area where the drilling is planned.

The NOC given by the state is conditional and temporary. It comes mainly from an irrigation management standpoint, meaning the approval focuses on water use and safeguards rather than being a complete operational go-ahead. The government has stressed that Vedanta must still get all other mandatory clearances, including environmental and statutory approvals, before it can start drilling. 

A key condition of the NOC is that Vedanta cannot draw water from any irrigation sources, such as canals, reservoirs, ponds, or surface water systems, for its drilling or related activities. This is meant to protect water availability for farming and local communities in the Krishna delta, a fertile agricultural region heavily dependent on irrigation.

Vedanta’s Cairn Oil & Gas division is one of India’s largest private players in oil and gas exploration and currently contributes a significant portion of the country’s domestic crude output. The drilling project under the Discovered Small Field (DSF) Policy 2018 represents a step toward expanding local energy production and reducing reliance on imported fuels.

While this approval marks progress for the company’s plans, its ultimate success will depend on how it meets environmental, water, and other regulatory requirements moving forward.