(a) Examine the role of petroleum as an important source of energy and describe its distribution in India.

Petroleum as an important source of energy-

(i) Petroleum or mineral oil is the next major energy source in India after coal. It provides fuel for heat and lighting.

(ii) It provides lubricants for machinery.

(iii) It provides raw materials for a number of manufacturing industries like synthetic textile, fertiliser and numerous chemical industries.

Distribution of Petrolium-

(i) Mumbai High, Gujarat and Assam are major petroleum production areas in India.

(ii) Ankeleshwar is the most important field of Gujarat.

(iii) Assam is the oldest oil producing state of India.

(iv) Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran-Hugrijan are the important oil fields in Assam.

OR 17.(b) Examine the role of coal as an important energy resource and describe its distribution in India.

Coal as an important energy resource

(i) Coal is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India. It provides a substantial part of the nation’s energy needs.

(ii) It is used for power generation.

(iii) It is used to supply energy to industry as well as for domestic needs.

(iv) India is highly dependent on coal for meeting its commercial energy requirements.

Distribution of Coal in India-

(i) The principal lignite reserves are in Neyveli in Tamil Nadu and are used for generation of electricity.

(ii) The major resources of Gondwana coal, which are metallurgical coal, are located in Damodar valley (West Bengal- Jharkhand). Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro are important coalfields.

(iii) The Godavari, Mahanadi, Son and Wardha valleys also contain coal deposits.

(iv) Tertiary coals occur in the north eastern states of Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.