Nagaland chief minister T.R Zeliang said the Government of India (GoI) was not the stumbling block for exploration of oil in the state, but the issue was within the state, owing to the PIL filed by the Lotha Hoho.
In his reply to the governor’s address, the chief minister recalled the passing of rules and regulations on Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulation (NPNGR) in 2012, amid stiff opposition from various quarters terming as unconstitutional which was framed in line with Article 371 (A).
Zeliang said after taking over as chief minister, he met the union petroleum minister and explained the position of the state, where the union minister “understood” and enquired whether the state government could earmark any for central share out of the 16%.
To this, Zeliang said he replied that it needed further discussion as the 8% share for the landowners could not be touched.
Chief minister also claimed that on his stiff opposition on the bid for exploration of oil in two oil blocks in Nagaland- Champang and Chumukedima, the union minister has agreed to keep the auction in abeyance.