Imphal, May 20 (MExN): Women bodies (Meira Paibi) and youth clubs in Imphal West have condemned the oil exploration surveys and demanded that Oil India Limited stop all exploration related works in all parts of Manipur. A resolution to this effect was taken during a Community Meet on Oil Exploration on May 18 at Khaidem Mayai Leikai, Laibung, Imphal West, a press release informed. The meeting was organised by Meira Paibi association and youth clubs of Khaidem village, Awang Leikai, Makha Leikai and Mayai Leikai in Imphal West along with Committee on the Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur (CPNRM), All Manipur United Clubs Organization (AMUCO), and North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF). The Consultation is organized in view of the 2D surveys for oil exploration works in Manipur by Asian Oilfield, contracted by the Oil India Limited, the release added. “The participants condemned the oil exploration surveys and multiple blasting by Asian Oilfield in Khaidem area and resolved that oil companies, viz, the Asian Oilfield, Oil India Limited should stop all exploration related works in Khaidem area and in all parts of Manipur,” the release stated. The participants also resolved that the Asian Oilfield should mandatorily provide to the people of Manipur all details of their project, such as Detailed Project Report, Environmental Impact Assessments, Social Impact Assessment, Environment Management Plan and all agreements with the Government of India and Government of Manipur for oil exploration. Gunni, a Meira Paibi leader of Khumbong Area, and Jiten, of Khaidem Village, shared experiences of how Asian Oilfield conducted oil surveys in Khaidem Area, by blasting multiple bombs in agricultural land without conducting any environmental or social impact assessments and without providing any details of the proposed oil exploration plan and surveys etc. Aram Pamei, Ex-President, Naga Women Union shared that villagers of Tamenglong rejected No Objection Certificates (NOC) due to social, environmental impacts and on consideration of their rights over their land and territories. She claimed that villagers of Tamenglong District were duped by oil companies into giving NOC’s by bribing local leaders and propagating misinformation. Nando Luwang, Vice President, AMUCO, condemned how Oil India Limited and Asian Oilfield commenced survey and oil exploration works without even informing the people of Manipur. Luwang maintained that oil resources belong to people of Manipur. Y Jiten of CPNRM shared that oil resource is classified as Union Government property and how such classification with multiple oil related laws on exploration and extraction constitute “deprivation and negation” of the rights of the people of Manipur on their own resources and their right to develop it.