Wokha, September 17 (MExN): Following a meeting of the Kyong community in Kohima on the State’s Draft Modality for exploration and exploitation of Petroleum and Natural Gas (P&NG), the Kyong (Lotha) Hoho has sent a formal submission to the convenor of the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) on P&NG to be included in the Modality. The inability of the government to accommodate the same will result in the Kyong Hoho disallowing “any exploration or exploitation of P&NG in the form the State Cabinet had approved even if it legislated in the Assembly.”
Points that the Kyong Hoho has worked out include clauses on prior and free consent of the affected people/landowners, establishment of a refinery as a pre condition, establishment of a Group Gathering Station, installation of a gas cracker plant near area of extraction, relevant employment opportunities, establishment of the extraction company in the district of extraction, direct payment of revenue to landowners as opposed to District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) and a Trust Fund with landowners’ share.
The Hoho has also prescribed rates for crude and natural gas, modalities of equity shares, environment restrictions, relief and rehabilitation requirements, reclamation and reforestation, representation in the execution of the Modality and representation requirements in the monitoring committee.
On a similar note, the Changpang Land Owners’ Union (CLOU) has also expressed its discontent over the Draft Modality, to be tabled in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on September 21 and 22. Among others, “what we don’t agree is the DPDB is also a government agent and so any deduction for developmental activities in the district should be borne from the government’s share. Land owners from both the party will not compromise on the manipulation meted out to them,” stated a representation from President and General Secretary of CLOU.
They have also reiterated that “no oil activities will be allowed unless past mistakes are rectified” and a “respectable, honourable and acceptable” modality implied “in principle and practice”.
See related statement on p4
