Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) has reminded chief minister Neiphu Rio about its demands for resumption of oil exploration and extraction in Nagaland.
In a representation to chief minister Neiphiu Rio, CNTC president, T. Lanu Imchen and general secretary Er. Tsungrosan Kithan expressed regret that despite having made several appeals in the past on resumption of oil operations in Nagaland, no action has 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 fuelswould 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.
While referring to the application for Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) in 2019 to the state government from the Oil India Ltd.(OIL), which has exploration license in the bloc comprising Kohima, Mokokchung, Wokha and Zunheboto districts, CNTC said the three years was a long time in granting PEL.
CNTC also demanded that Champang oilfield which remained closed since 1994 be reopened for oil extraction. It also alleged that the State government’s plea in the guise of non-natural oil entity was due to vested interest and an attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of people.
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.
CNTC therefore appealed to the chief minister to take up the matter in earnest while also assuring of its full cooperation in this regard.
Thursday, April 2, 2026