Gujarat Congress alleges Samudra Manthan scheme designed to benefit Adani, demands scrapping

Ahmedabad: Congress on Monday alleged that the Centre’s newly approved “Samudra Manthan” scheme was designed to benefit the Adani Group and questioned the use of public funds to de-risk private-sector oil and gas exploration.

In a press note, AICC national spokesperson and former Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil stated that the scheme, with an outlay of Rs 84,084 crore in its first phase, would provide up to 50% financial support for offshore exploration activities.

Congress alleged that Adani-led Adani Welspun Exploration Limited (AWEL), in which the Adani Group holds a 65% stake, would be a key beneficiary of the scheme. It said AWEL has exploration rights in blocks in the Mumbai Offshore Basin, Tapi-Daman and Kutch and is expected to begin major oil and gas exploration in the coming months.

Gohil stated that under the scheme, the government would bear part of the costs of deep-sea drilling, seismic surveys, geological data reprocessing and offshore infrastructure, while profits from successful exploration would accrue to private companies.

Congress questioned why the government was using public money to reduce the risks of private exploration instead of giving a larger role to ONGC, which it said has decades of experience in oil and gas exploration.

“Secure and uninterrupted access to energy resources is of strategic importance for our country. Our country’s energy demand is also expected to rise steadily in the coming decades and enhancing domestic oil and gas production is essential for reducing import dependence, strengthening energy resilience and securing our nation’s long-term economic growth. But why is the Modi government wanting to de-risk private exploration with public money?

Why isn’t ONGC being given the primary role in this national mission? Why is the Modi government damaging the interests of its own ONGC, which already possesses decades of exploration expertise, to benefit one private company?” Gohil said.

Congress also cited previous policy decisions involving airports, solar projects and grain storage to allege that government policies had benefited the Adani Group.

The party demanded that the Samudra Manthan scheme be scrapped or that the Rs 84,084 crore allocation be diverted to ONGC to support exploration and create jobs.

“We demand, Samudra Manthan scheme should be scrapped or the entire amount of Rs 84,084 crore should be diverted to the Government’s own public-sector energy giant ONGC to create jobs and facilitate exploration. Because Samudra Manthan should churn the ocean for India, not churn taxpayer money to ensure profit for one private company. Samudra Manthan should benefit every Indian, not just Adani,” a press release said. DeshGujarat