Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, SEP 16 (NPN): The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production held a meeting chaired by chief minister Dr Neiphiu Rio, with cabinet ministers, advisers, MLAs from oil-bearing areas, and officials and members of the Geology and Mining department in attendance.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Advisor SCERT & Food Processing, Achumbemo Kikon, said discussions were still underway and nothing had been finalized, as the matter involved critical issues requiring examination from all aspects.
He said Article 371(A) made the issue particularly sensitive, stressing that land and its resources were constitutionally protected and belonged to the people.
“First we have to protect our people and our resources and land first. Then the rest follows,” he said, adding that elected representatives had a responsibility to safeguard the interests of the people.
On the Disturbed Area Belt (DAB) issue and reports of a proposal to erect a statue of singer Zubeen Garg in the Assam Rengma Forest area, Kikon said the information had not yet been confirmed.
He said efforts were being made to address the issue through improved people-to-people relations between Assam and Nagaland. He noted that the two States were neighbours and would have to coexist.
Kikon said both people-to-people and government-to-government communication were being maintained, while efforts continued to ensure a peaceful environment.
He added that dialogue was being pursued alongside the legal process to explore ways of resolving the DAB issue peacefully.