Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) has welcomed the initiative of the Nagaland government for oil exploration with Assam government. The council felt that the revenue generated through oil would open up more development activities in the State.
Stating that it was also its long-standing demand, the CNTC said resumption of oil exploration and extraction in Nagaland would create employment opportunities and infrastructure. The council explained that it was for this matter that it had taken up the issue and time and again appealed to the chief minister of Nagaland for resumption of oil exploration and extraction in the State.
However, the CNTC urged the State government to ensure that landowners and stakeholders were taken into consideration before signing the memorandum of understanding for oil exploration so that mistake could not be repeated.
It recalled the filing of public interest litigation (PIL) by Lotha Hoho with regard to oil exploration activities in the State due to the failure of the State government in framing proper modalities on oil and natural gas extraction. Hence, CNTC appealed the State government to hold consultation with the landowners and stakeholders before the resumption of oil exploration in order to avoid further hindrance. The council assured to extend its full cooperation and support for the initiative.
It may be recalled that the council in a representation to chief minister Neiphiu Rio in June last year, expressed regret that despite having made several appeals in the past on resumption of oil operations in Nagaland, no action had been taken for reasons best known to the government. According to CNTC natural oil reserves in Nagaland would become valueless in due course of time due to advancement in technology where usage of fossil fuels would become redundant in the near future.
CNTC said it was therefore, pertinent that the state utilise its natural oil reserve immediately so that there was also sufficient internal revenue generation for the government and also to benefit the land owners.
CNTC also insisted that the State government should also demand all drilling and deviation programme for oilfields in disputed areas from ONGC and recover the royalty that was due to Nagaland.
