Er. W. Kithan
The observations of the Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) on the Modalities framed by the cabinet sub-committee on crude oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbon fossil fuels exploitation and extraction is full of misunderstood repetitions of antiquated and ancient utterances. One must place oneself in the present which is now advancing to second decades to the 21st century; and thoughts, mindsets should go on the line globalization of all human activities. Else, how the North-east Indian citizens were so rapidly affected by a mere minor ethnic conflict in one district of Assam (Kokrajhar & Chirang Division) right down to south India, compelling them to disrupt their studies, professions and avocations necessitating retreat to own homeland enmasse?
Assumptions that crude oil bearing areas once exploited commercially would propel the land owners of those who are their only to dizzy heights of prosperity and would cause social unbalance etc., is merely exposing their mindset of yesteryears. Fear not, we shall see to it nothing of that sort you are imagining will happen.
The state of Nagaland after its existence for nearly half a century is still unable to stand on its own legs due to paucity of internal state sense. Illegal taxes maybe there in almost every step of our daily life. Howbeit, no organized modern state could exist, not to speak of prospering, without raising taxes and generating internal resources. It is high time for us to go full stream for building up our internal resources. For such means we must harness our natural resources mainly mines and mineral, forest produce, and agriculture means should bring up enough food to sustain us. We ought to go for taxing on our lands even if meager at first, skyscraper buildings and even small scale industries so that responsibility to produce as envisaged are actually implemented.
We should implement taxation system on cash crop harvest. The list is endless but the most immediate and tangible state’s resources would come from royalty on mines and minerals or even the state sharing the cost on extracted hydrocarbon fossil fuels, which are available and proven deposits should not be allowed to lie unexploited.
Keeping in view of the above only few points the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government has been seized with the need to commercially exploit the crude oil reserves of all the oil block of Nagaland. For this purpose, efforts have been made to work out modalities under which oil companies would be allowed to take out crude oil gas productions. The type of modalities of the Grant Thonton Co. was one of many world renowned authorities covering more then ten countries where their advice had been accepted and working. Therefore the company had put up the guidelines for preparing detail modalities of our own choice from many types suitable to our conditions. Mere framework of the modalities had been circulated and vetted by many NGO’s, particularly the Ho-Ho’s of different tribes. It appears some Ho-Ho’s are not in the position to understand and appreciate the efforts given in the modalities as circulated etc.
But the most painful fact is that there are enormous fears or jealousies not in consonance with our professed one Naga family would cause harm to the other sections? How the loss of one section of Nagaland would accrue gains for the other sections? If this feeling continues then there is no “Our Naga Family” sorry…
Perhaps it is rather too late for me to advance for causing trouble to Nagaland as a whole. But suffice it to say that enough is enough, soon there may not be turning by the section of the communities who are continuously sidelined and insidiously, concertedly marginalized at all times. Before it is too late let us address each other’s feeling also in a civilized manner and not with raw domino theories.
