One day after the state chief minister announced that the state government intends to begin exploration and extraction in the Disputed Area Belt (DAB) once the tripartite MoU with Government of India, Nagaland and Assam was signed, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has urged the state government to “take a step back” and not take any hasty decision on the matter. In a press release, NSF president Kegwayhun Tep stated that the state government was “in a hurry” to sign the tripartite MoU conceding to the proposal of Assam regarding equal sharing of proceeds on oil and gas from A, B & C of the Disturbed Area Belt (DAB) and that the proceeds from D, E & F may be kept in an escrow account pending settlement between the two states. The federation has questioned as to why the state government should share royalty with any other states for any resources whose extraction exercise was carried out solely in the areas being administered by the state government of Nagaland.
NSF stated that illegal extraction by the neighbouring state was leading to massive revenue loss and dwindling of the petroleum deposit. However, NSF said it cannot be an excuse for the state government to “resort to steps which will compromise with the inalienable right of the Naga people over our land and resources.” NSF has demanded that the state government place the proposed tripartite agreement in public domain for thorough deliberation, consultations and suggestions before the state government acting upon it.
