Says, Lothas won’t allow oil exploration unless 2018 MoU honoured
Lotha Hoho (LH) has categorically stated that unless the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on November 20, 2018 between Lotha Hoho and the State government, for amendment of the Nagaland Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulations and Rules, 2012 (NP&NG RR 2012), was honoured and the NP&NG RR amended as per the MoU, the Lothas will not allow exploration or extraction of petroleum or natural gas within their jurisdiction.
Drawing attention on reports that Nagaland government plans to start oil exploration in the State and within the Disputed Area Belt (DAB) in collaboration with Assam, and also chief minister Neiphiu Rio writing to Assam chief minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma for a joint venture and sharing of returns; LH chairman Mhondamo Ovung and general secretary S Abenthung Ngullie reminded people as well as the state government on the 2018 MoU.
LH said that after signing of the MoU, it had withdrawn the PIL filed in the High court. However, the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court filed a suo moto PIL in 2019 to bring the matter to a logical conclusion and that the matter was still pending before the court.
The signatories therefore, said it looked as though “ the Suo Motu is kept deliberately delayed.”
According to LH, after understanding consequent loss due to non-utilisation of natural resources like petroleum and natural gas, it had withdrawn the PIL. However LH claimed, that it appears to transpire that the State government did not want to take the benefits of its resources. The signatories said they failed to understand why Nagaland chief minister was bypassing the stakeholders and reposing “so much confidence on Sarma”. LH also said it wondered whether the state government realised that the MoU was a legal document (between Lotha Hoho and Nagaland government) and that the LH could at any time revive the PIL, as was also enshrined in the MoU.
The hoho asked if the long delay in amending the NP&NG RR 2012 could mean the LH could revive the PIL?. It also asked why DAB was only towards Nagaland and why Nagaland should accept DAB which is practically unjustified claims of Assam?.
LH also asked about the numerous (12) reserved forests of Nagaland transferred to Assam by the British for administrative convenience and whether these were not disputed areas?.
Pointing out that at the time of creation of Nagaland state, towns in Assam like Sivasagar, Nowgong and Lakhimpur were taken as the tentative boundary between Assam and Nagaland and therefore. Therefore, LH asked why shouldn’t the lines crossing these towns be declared as the permanent constitutional boundary between the two States?.
Further it reminded Nagas that there was need to realise that amendment to the NP&NG 2012 regulations &rules was for the benefit of all stakeholders and not for the Lothas alone.
LH also pointed out some of the major objectionable provisions in the NP&NG RR such as No objection Certificate (NoC) from land owners was to be issued by Naga Hoho and ENPO. It reiterated that there was also no provision for royalty payment to land owners, but only revenue, which legally implied that land owners would not have any share of the benefit.
LH also asked why NoC for Lotha land should be issued by a non-stakeholder like Naga Hoho and ENPO and demanded to know if Nagas of Nagaland were agreeable to these provisions?
In this regard, the signatories said LH intended to convey to the state government and the people that unless the MoU was honoured and implemented and the NP&NG RR 2012 amended as per “agreed points” of the MoU, the Lothas will not allow exploration and extraction of petroleum or natural gas under its jurisdiction.