‘More oil found? ONGC undertakes illegal exploration in Wokha

Al Ngullie 
Dimapur | May 25

In the midst of strong indications that more crude-oil reserves have been discovered in the southern belt of Wokha district, a team of Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) surveyors was ejected by the Wokha administration on May 14 from the Lower Wokha areas for undertaking survey works illegally. And the state government has expressed ignorance of any permit issued to the ONGC to ‘survey’ Ralan and Liphayan areas.  

Observers have strongly indicated the existence of an oil reserve-belt in the Governor’s Camp Liphayan and Ralan rang areas, under Wokha district. Till date, Champang HQ – also under Wokha administration, is the only area established to be a crude-oil reserve.

A team of ONGC surveyors was found undertaking survey and drilling works in Ralan on May 14 and later, in Governor’s Camp Liphayan. Acting on complaints from Ralan’s citizens, the Wokha administration promptly stopped the ‘explorations’ and demanded from the ONGC team that their presence in the area be justified by license/permits from the state government. The team had none, leave alone explain the reason for undertaking drilling works in Ralan.

SDO (Civil) of Ralan Yanpuvthung Kikon confirmed of the illegal survey work by the ONGC. “We asked them if they had permission from the state government for the ‘survey.’ They did not have any license, permit or documents. We asked them to pack up and leave,” SDO Kikon informed. Interestingly the team was led by a local, Kikon said. He was acting as a ‘Mohori’ (a Labor broker).  The SDO said to have informed the deputy Commissioner of the matter. Request for confirmation of any authorization, if any, issued to the ONGC has been dispatched to the state government. The same is awaited, Kikon said. 

Further, the same day itself, the Wokha administration received reports that another ONGC team was in Governor’s Camp Liphayan going about drilling works. The team too had no permit issued to them by the state government. Doubashis (DBs) have been deployed to Liphayan to enquire of the matter and submit the report to the Deputy Commissioner, source informed. 

Deputy Commissioner of Wokha Mikha Lomi said no permit could be found with the team. He has already instructed the administration to enquire of the activities of the ONGC team and report promptly. If the corporation has been granted permission it is ‘OK’ but for now the matter is subject to confirmation from the state, Lomi said. Investigations are on.   

Sources said the team arrived in two trucks. Fifteen of the ONGC team was observed to be the main functionaries supervising the entire drilling and survey task. The very fact that the ONGC should even be undertaking survey works, leave alone drilling, is an indication that an oil belt has been discovered, observers opined.  

On the government’s side, it is not aware of any permit issued to the ONGC. Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Lalthara said the team most probably is from the Assam chapter of the ONGC and not Nagaland’s. They may have been in the area unaware that it is a disputed range (or Disputed Area Belt), Lalthara said while confirming that no permit was issued to the corporation for the Ralan/Liphayan areas. 

The most interesting aspect about the recent development is the ONGC’s presence in the said areas – Ralan and Liphayan are to the far south of Wokha district far removed from ONGC Champang HQ which is to the extreme North-west of Wokha.  

On related matters, a surprised Lotha Students Union (LSU) has demanded immediate clarification from the state government, particular to issuance of any exploration-license to the ONGC or any other mining company. President of the LSU Nzanthung K Yanthan told this daily that the team should be arrested since no legal permit was produced. The president also appreciated the timely intervention of the Wokha administration, particularly the SDO (Civil) of Ralan. The LSU has warned individuals or groups ‘who go against the popular wishes of the people.’ The government is also urged to take necessary action the ONGC survey team for the illegal activity.