EMN
DIMAPUR, JULY 23
THE Nagaland Tribes’ Council (NTC) has advised the government of Nagaland to exercise prudence when dealing with the land and land resources of the people of Nagaland and not take to “haste” in the name of development or revenue.
The apex Naga organization in the state issued a statement on Wednesday cautioning the state against giving away the “financial benefits” of the people away in the name of development; the organization also cast doubts on the credibility of the Metropolitan Oil & Gas Private Ltd. “The attention of the NTC is drawn to the ongoing controversy over the oil and natural gas and its exploration as contemplated by the state government. What NTC observes is that no room should be left for dissension over the financial benefit to be accrued by stakeholders,” the media cell of the organization stated on July 23. “What is legally due to land owners and also to the state government, it should be given and not otherwise. The existing rules for exploration seems to have discrepancies.”
Another issue of serious concern, the NTC stated, was the credibility and nature of the oil company engaged by the state government for operation. “The success of such operation largely depends on the capability and integrity of the company engaged. The MOPGL seems to be controversial and unless the credibility of the company is found satisfactory, no such work should have been allotted,” the NTC said.
The NTC also alluded to the government’s sidelining tribal leaderships of the state when undertaking important policy decisions. “The NTC has no intention to indict any tribal hobo or any NGO. Yet it is our observation that the present trend is found disturbing. It will be unfortunate if government had obtained NOC or approval of a village or tribal hoho through the system of sale and purchase.
The exploration of our wealth through such manoeuvring will bring ruin rather than gain,” the council stated.
Another concern the council raised was that of unanimity in allowing exploitation of natural resources.
“That a section of land owners in Wokha district might have agreed with the government but there is no unanimity amongst the wokha people. If the government had to impose 144CRPC in order to do the formal inauguration, the exploration had to be operated under such intense situation without the good will of the people and the required atmosphere conducive for such an important operation will be missing,” the council reminded. It was suggesting that the very reason that police enforcement was engaged on the launch of the exploration in Changpang reflected the lack of consensus.
“The NTC therefore, deplore the hostile attitude of the government to impose its policy on the people in such a haste,” the NTC stated.
