Oil and gas
drilling contributes to climate change and threatens wildlife and communities —Margaret Williams, Managing Director, World
Wildlife Fund-US.
Dr. Vikuosa Nienu
No nation can thrive without its natural resources;
however, how they are procured to benefit society is a moot question. Our
Creator has undoubtedly endowed the Naga country with rich and bountiful
resources, but these are yet to be adequately researched. The absence of proper
investigation and feasibility studies would amount to abusing its resources.
Natural resources include oil (petroleum), natural gas, and minerals (plus forests,
water, ocean, and sea), and randomly extracting them could jeopardise, if not
destroy, the ultimate purpose, including damage to the natural environment and
ecosystems. This heritage must be carefully thought out and well-planned to
harness current needs and preserve them for future generations because fossil
fuels are non-renewable. The situation in Nagaland poses greater risks beyond
mere technicalities as the political disputes remain unsettled, including
unresolved borders and boundaries. There are too many hurdles to ignore.
While bringing development to the much-needed undeveloped
areas such as Nagaland with proceeds from such projects is admirable, the
realities are not as simple as one would assume. The idea might superficially
appear tempting, even convincing, but it requires thoroughly examining the
various factors involved in complex undertakings such as extracting oil and
gas. Core issues include reservoir capacity, project cost, the percentage of
the proceeds the society will benefit from, the stakeholders, and all other
likely beneficiaries. Various other areas demand caution.
Is there a consensus among all politically diverse
groups (not just the State apparatus), and why not? Other considerations
include (a) whether industry-related, well-trained, and experienced indigenous
Nagas are involved in the actual operation of the project/s, at least in the
upstream phase; (b) whether the Board and Committee Members overseeing the
projects possess industry-related backgrounds; (c) whether a competitive
bidding process for the project/(s) exists, if not, why not? And many others.
Have all these issues been resolved? If so, are official documents readily
available for review? We need facts.
Oil and natural gas drilling is highly complex.
Besides financial and technical constraints, permanent damage to the natural
environment and ecological legacies is even more critical. The consequences of
oil and natural gas extraction damaging ecosystems are not new. Countless
stories worldwide of drilling mishaps and failures forewarn of soil, water, and
air contamination damage, not to mention wildlife and human casualties.
Oil/gas drilling requires elaborate infrastructures
and extensive human activities, such as building roads, site preparation,
equipment handling, and other paraphernalia (including pipelines if needed).
The test-drilling portion alone poses grave dangers. Combined with full-scale
operations, these jobs often become volatile, damaging pristine lands and
wildlife habitats and introducing environmentally detrimental elements.
Crude oil, liquid hydrocarbons, and combustible
gases are transported from the trial sites to various destinations, such as
multiple wells, testing facilities, treatment and production facilities,
storage facilities, etc., through various transport mechanisms: tankers, fuel
trucks, pipelines, etc. This short paper cannot adequately address all the
associated drilling disasters, such as oil spills from blowouts, pipeline leaks
or failures, or transporting accidents, which devastate wildlife and humans who
depend on these ecosystems, including climate crises and instabilities. Severe
impacts on humans and wildlife cannot be measured purely based on monetary
values. Human or equipment mishaps are unavoidable in such projects, whether
supervised or not. It is impossible to predict catastrophic events in such
undertakings. Moreover, operating companies prioritise profits over
environmental or ecological sustainability. Any hope of compensation for
damages from corporate giants and crony capitalism is unrealistic.
Fossil fuel drilling releases countless harmful
pollutants into the air, known as “invisible killers," which cause
respiratory, cardiovascular, and other diseases. It also discharges dangerous
chemicals into the water, poisoning the water quality that humans and animals
depend on for survival. Fossil fuel extraction disrupts tourism. Even without
pipelines, busy roads, and drilling paraphernalia, it will hurt the local
economy and the tourism industry. Have any vulnerability assessments and
negative impacts on the various issues been conducted?
Because economic growth and development through oil
and gas extraction are based on speculation, extensive preliminary studies and
preparations are essential, as none of these resources can be visually
examined. There are countless negative impacts on the environmental and
societal levels. Developmental programmes, including job creation, are too
broad for accuracy or accountability; they cannot be guaranteed because of
unpredictability. Regarding projected revenues, companies that operate the
drilling receive the lion's share, followed by those that get what is anybody’s
guess. A trickle-down share for development programmes can be risky. That’s the
reality. Never forget the dictum: Politics is dirty.
Understanding that ecologically and environmentally
unsound projects seldom benefit society in the long run is critical. To avoid
short-term gains, it is not only appropriate and prudent but mandatory to
rigorously examine the potential benefits and damaging impacts of such
projects. It is inadvisable to rush to enforce unsound projects. Ideally, we
need local native experts who are well-trained in the industry and can oversee
every aspect of the projects, from upstream to downstream and everything in
between.
While I am not an industry expert, I have some basic
knowledge of the pros and cons of these types of projects. I was fortunate to
participate in and observe the ONGC’s test drilling conducted in the 70s, the
first in Nagaland when I served as the Investigator of Research posted at the
Cultural Research & State Museum, now the Art & Museum. The
indescribable mess and the haphazard trails they created indicate that their
technicians were neither well-trained nor well-equipped. Reckless projects that
will destroy the ecosphere’s intricate tapestry of interwoven life forms
(biodiversity) must be seriously examined.
Nagaland has a unique climate regime: tropical,
subtropical, and temperate. Innumerable creepers, birds, especially hornbills
whose feathers Nagas pride in reside on these treetops. Once destroyed, it will
take not centuries but millennia to restore, if at all. Despite the best safety
measures and emergency preparedness or contingencies, massive fire outbreaks
from drilling accidents in forested hilly areas are too complicated and
dangerous to contain against any eventuality. A lush green mountain that once
teemed with wildlife is worthless when it is barren.
Due to its importance, I want Nagas to know the
discussions between the late President Phizo and myself. He suggested I find
suitable companies for petroleum drilling and other projects. I responded that
it is premature to undertake essential projects without appropriate committees
and organisations to deliberate and oversee, but chiefly the political
conundrum. We need accountability. I’m confident that Madame President Adinno
Phizo still remembers because it was written correspondence between her father
and me. My statement remains valid to this day.
I will not hesitate to discuss the dangers of
ecological and environmental aspects; I have the requisite background
(education and experience). I have also served as the Napa County (USA)
Wildlife Conservation Commissioner for eight years. I don’t need to beat my
drum.
India is capitalising on its messy colonial legacy,
exacerbated by the Naga leaders’ shortsightedness, ill-conceived plans, and/or
deceptive and misguided trust (or all the above), which led to the formation of
the state. Furthermore, this was compounded by a disorganised and disintegrated
movement for regaining sovereignty. It’s a total mess all around. Do not blame
India alone. It is crucial to think carefully before launching any major
projects.
Nagaland's chaotic political problem (all-inclusive)
is the main roadblock to any viable project. A stable political situation
conducive to economic potential by adopting viable and progressive measures
from natural resources, including carefully planned tourism, could usher in
excellent economic growth and opportunities. As I have repeated in my previous
articles published in the local newspapers, the first step is uniting all the
Nagas. It is premature to talk about any settlements without unity. Unity
translates to strength and power.
It’s wise to define our priorities.
Have you consulted or sought the advice of
superpowers on crucial matters such as this? If so, were they presidents, prime
ministers, governors, or your gods or goddesses? Jehovah, our Creator and Giver
of all resources is the only authority that gives clear-cut direction if we
seek His guidance!
Naga Hills is a
naturalist’s paradise.
It is of
immeasurable importance that all sentient human beings should achieve a proper
understanding of the dangers implicit in our present extravagant exploitation
of natural resources — S. Dillon Ripley, Former Secretary Emeritus of the
National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
The famed
ornithologist and wildlife conservationist, the late Dr. Ripley, led a
scientific expedition to the then-Naga Hills in 1954 as an Associate Curator of
Zoology at the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University.
