The Rengma Nagas are happy to state that the foothill road which is going to be main lifeline for the survival of the Nagas pass through Rengma Hills from Diphu Reserve Forest which falls under Rengma Hills. We are proud of it since we also happened to be a part of it.
As we all know that during British regime a huge portion of Rengma Hills was converted into Reserved Forests between the year 1878 and 1887. Within Rengma Hills, the Nambor Reserved Forest was created on 17th October1878 under section No. 05, Diphu Reserved Forest on 14th April 1887 under section No.25, Kalliani Reserved Forest on 5th June 1887 under section No.47, and Rengma Reserve Forest on 13th April 1887 vide Revenue Department Notification No.25 which lies along the valley of Rengma river (Rengmapani) from the feet of the Naga Hills on the south east, and on the north Rengma river its junction with the Doyang river. These three forests namely Nambor, Diphu and Rengma forests are contagous area, bordering one another and the Rengma Reserved Forest goes upto Doyang river where the Foothill road pass through it upto Doyang river.
At the same time we are also deeply regretted to state that the Govt. of Nagaland have not taken up the issue of crude oil production doing by ONGC in Rengma Reserved Forest areas with the Govt. of India even till to-day. The ONGC has been carrying out geological and geophysical survey since 1988-89 in Rengma Reserved Forest and its surrounding in Rengma territory on the strength of permission obtained from the Ministry of Forest & Environment. And accordingly ONGC has started producing crude oil at Gholapani, Haldibari, Lisagoan areas in Rengma Reserved Forest since 1988. In this matter I would like to refer the official letter of Shri Mool Chand Regional Director, ONGC, Eastern Regional Business Center, Nazira, Assam to Chief secretary, Govt. of Nagaland, Kohima dated 19th Dec 1990.
It states that “ONGC has drilled two location-Viz KGP-3 and KHB as per enclosed map of the area. It is planned to continue drilling and other activities in Rengma Reserved Forest which is a disputed area between the states of Nagaland and Assam. Your kind permission and assistance to continue oil exploration work in Rengma Forest area is therefore, earnestly requested”. Now we have seen that the GOI, Govt. of Assam and ONGC have clearly stated that drilling of crude oil at Gholapani, Haldibari, Lisagoan and its surroundings is in Rengma Reserved Forest in the valley of Rengma river but the Govt. of Nagaland and our Naga people used to say no, it is under disputed area. It is our land, our oil fields, our rivers, our roads, our forests and there is no doubt about it. The Rengma Hoho have submitted a memorandum to Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI, and also to Chairman, ONGC, Jeevan Bharti Tower, New Delhi, for payment of loyalty of crude oil producing from our land. The Govt. of Nagaland should also attend to it.
K Kath Rengma
Ex. President
Rengma Hoho Dimapur
