4 May 2007 - 18:27
  • News ID: 103808

NEW DELHI -- Engineers carrying out a survey along the Jhelum river in Kashmir have accidentally struck a gas reserve. A group of engineers, working with the state-run Flood Control Division, said that they were drilling holes along the Jhelum coast when the gas began to emanate, ANI reported.

"While digging, suddenly there was pressure and water splashed on us. Then we saw gas emanating which continued uninterruptedly for 24 hours or more than that. Then the veins got chocked a little bit and for some time the process stopped. But it went on continuously the next day. But we have no clue as of now what gas it is," said Zulfiqar Ahmed, Assistant Engineer, Flood Control Division.

 

Experts have called for a proper survey to ascertain if there is a gas reserve in the region, considering the Himalayan region is rich in natural resources.

 

Meanwhile, the finding has brought a cheer among the Srinagar residents.

 

"We are very happy with this find here. It will be good for us and will benefit us in future," said Sameer Ahmed, a local.

 

India"s biggest gas find till now - 14 trillion cubic feet - is in the southern basin, which is being developed by the Reliance Industries and is due to start production by 2008.

 

The latest discovery has come as India is facing pressure from the United States against going ahead with the plans for a

multi-billion-dollar pipeline to pump natural gas from Iran through Pakistan.

 

India is one of the largest energy consumers and importers, and has seen a series of oil and gas discoveries in the recent past.

 

PIN/IRNA

News ID 103808

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