Expressing dismay over the non-inclusion of the “land owner legislator” from 40 Bhandari assembly constituency in the recently constituted Ministerial Group on Petroleum & Natural Gas (P&NG), the Changpang Area Development Co-ordination Committee (CADCC) has urged the state government to include MLA from 40 Bhandari as a co-opted member if not Ministerial Group member.
In a press release, CADCC convenor Yingashümo Kithan and member secretary Manthüngo Odyuo maintained that the special provision under Article 371A in the Constitution of India and the subsequent resolution passed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on July 26, 2010, the elected legislator of 40 Bhandari assembly constituency automatically becomes the “land owner legislator”.
During the last election campaign on at Changpang ONGC village on February 14, 2023, CADCC said the general public demanded the resumption of oil & gas business from the candidate if he gets elected. The committee said the present MLA had assured to the public to take up the issue of resumption of oil & gas.
Due to non-resumption of oil & gas business in Nagaland, CADCC said the state government was losing revenue of Rs. 1800 crore annually and Rs. 52,200 crore since May 1994 to 2023.
CADCC also reminded the state government that for the first time in Nagaland crude oil & gas was struck from Changpang, Tssori, Wokha by ONGC in 1973. However, it said the state government had suspended all its petroleum & Gas activities after Naga public and NSF agitations on May 5, 1994.