"The chances of oil and natural gas reserves in Bihar"s Purnea district are strong as per initial data collected during the survey," Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said on Tuesday.

"According to experts, it shows the likely presence of reserves," he said.

Cairn Energy India Ltd (CEIL) began an aero-magnetic survey in Bihar"s Ganges basin - comprising 12 districts spread over 15,500 sq km - for oil and natural gas last month, the first such exploration in the state. CEIL was given a seven-year license for exploration work in the first phase.

A specially designed airplane was hired from Canada for the survey.

Indian energy major Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has the license for the second phase of the survey in 8,000 sq km of Purnea district. After CEIL, the ONGC will also start its survey.

"It will be a turnaround for Bihar if much required hydrocarbons are found during exploration," Yadav said.

It could be a new resource of energy for Bihar as well as India. The state was left with only agriculture, sand and human resources following its bifurcation that led to the creation of Jharkhand state in 2000, with all its mines and industries going to the latter. According to independent estimates, reserves in the Ganges basin, known locally as the Purnea basin, could be as high as 465 million tonnes of crude and natural gas

PIN/THE TIMES OF INDIA