The Centre has clarified that hydrocarbon exploration in Tamil Nadu is neither hampering agriculture nor posing any environmental impact or health hazards on living beings in the operational area. <br/><br/>The clarification came in the backdrop of concerns raised over the impact of exploration and production activities in oil and gas fields on agriculture and contamination of water. <br/><br/>The Union Oil and Natural Gas Ministry said, extraction of oil and gas is a well-established practice. It also said, state-of-the-art technology is being used for the operations with maximum care for environmental concerns. <br/><br/>The Ministry has also said, oil and gas extraction are being carried out from a depth exceeding 1000 meter, and thus doesn't affect ground water aquifers, which are located at much shallower levels. <br/>'<br/>Neduvasal in Tamil Nadu and Karaikkal in Puducherry are two of the 31 contract areas awarded for exploration as part of the Discovered Small Field Bid Round 2016 by the Ministry.