KOHIMA Feb 3 (NEPS): Nagaland Home Minister Dr TM Lotha said the approach of the ONGC for the exploration of oil in Nagaland was ?unrealistic because they had not given due recognition to the landowners.
Speaking to NEPS here today, the Home Minister made it clear that the plight of the landowners should be addressed and further added that the ONGC was quite ?insensitive? towards this.?They (ONGC) have not taken care of the interest and wellbeing of the landowners,? the Minister stated. Therefore, the landowners were unhappy with them.
Dr Lotha also flaged the unsystematic style of functioning by the ONGC officials while meeting with the latter in national capital. The Minister did not buy the reasons put forward by the ONGC officials that Naga undergrounds impeded in their works.
He said the main point of the stagnation of the ONGC work progress in Nagaland was largely due to the sheer negligence of the interest and welfare of the landowners in the areas by them.
?The landowners are still asserting that they will not allow ONGC to resume its works unless their plights are properly addressed and appropriate rehabilitation package was given because once extraction started, the whole area would become barren? Dr Lotha informed.
He further believed that unless a fresh MoU was signed between the ONGC and the Government of Nagaland and the (Nagaland) Government made again certain arrangements of understanding with the landowners, the company (ONGC) would meet the same fate. ?Because the State Government can?t ignore the landowners? plight,? the Minister pointed out.
Dr Lotha also said the ONGC had survey record of the oil fields in Nagaland. He said a copy of the survey record was supposed to be given to the Nagaland Government. Interestingly, it was yet to be given.
Many national and international firms wanting to come to Nagaland for exploration had been demanding a copy of the survey record from the ONGC. But the company didn?t listen to it, he stated terming the attitude of the ONGC as ?impractical and holding the whole State to ransom.?
The Minister said during SC Jamir?s regime in the State, the ONGC had paid over Rs 30 crore to the State as loyalty. Surprisingly there was no record of how much amount of extraction was carried out by the ONGC. ?This is very unfortunate,? he pointed out.
?Therefore we are thorougly convinced that these people had something in their heart to do something for Nagaland,? the Home Minister stated The Home Minister also disclosed about the interest of three Americans including a scientist, who were recently in State capital, to do oil exploration in Nagaland. The trio, who had been doing oil exploration in foreign countries, informed the State Government that they wanted to see Nagaland develop economically.
The three Americans had even suggested going for consortium with the Government if the latter wanted to and even told them that they would give to the Nagaland State out of the income.?Therefore we are thoroughly convinced that these people had something in their heart to do something for Nagaland,? the Home Minister stated.
?There are many companies interested to do exploration in Nagaland. They (ONGC) are not the only one now.?Dr Lotha also regretted the continuation of oil exploration from Lishayan area under Wokha district by Assam. ?This started during Jamir regime,? he said adding ?it (exploration) is still continuing.?The ONGC people claimed that the area (Lishayan) was under ?disturbed area belt,? Dr Lotha wondered how Assam could access and use the area while Nagaland couldn?t.
Stating that such illegal practices should be completely stopped as it was not only a loss for the Lothas but Nagas as a whole, the Minister said ?This is really painful happening in our land.?Dr Lotha also described as ?notorious, one-sided and impracticable? the Assam-Nagaland Border Agreement of 1972. Because the Center had to deploy neutral forces the law and order of the area was maintained under an Assam IGP and the Forest by Assam Forest, he said.