APPCB seeks compensation of ₹ 36.17 crore from ONGC for drilling of Mori-5 well, files show cause notice

Fire is raging from ONGC’s well, Mori-5, in Irusumanda village of Malkipuram Mandal in Dr. district. BR Ambedkar Konaseema on Monday. | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

AMALAPURAM

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Authority has issued a notice to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) proposing environmental compensation of ₹ 36.17 crore for operating M/s.ONGC Well Mori-5 without obtaining mandatory environmental clearances for 12,057 days.

The APPCB was investigating the breach following an explosion due to a gas leak at the Mori-5 borehole in Irusumanda village of Dr district. BR Ambedkar Konaseema on 5 January 2026.

In April, the APPCB Monitoring Committee learned that ONGC had handed over the well to its Production Enhancement Contract (PEC) contractor, i.e. M/s Deep Exploratory Services Pvt Ltd., in April 2025 to carry out production enhancement works and activities. Later, the committee observed that M/s.ONGC Well Mori-5 is operating without obtaining mandatory environmental clearances and approvals.

In a notification dated September 15, APPCB member secretary S. Srisaravanan said; “Board hereby issues a show cause notice to M/s.ONGC Well Mori-5 that environmental compensation of ₹36,17,10,000/- shall not be collected from your establishment for operating the well in violation of the consent conditions”. A copy of the show-cause notice is with The Hindu.

ONGC was directed to submit its response within 15 days of receiving the notice, failing which an environmental compensation of ₹ 36.17 crore would be imposed for causing environmental damage due to the blast.

Meanwhile, Konaseema-based environmental activist Venkatapathi Raja Yenumala has filed a case at the National Green Tribunal in Chennai regarding the incident and violation of operation of the Mori Well-5.

Published – 04 Nov 2026 21:38 IST