36 oil fields located in disputed Assam-Nagaland border: Tokheho
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 20
Lok Sabha Member from Nagaland, Tokheho Yepthomi said that the Nagaland state government should take keen interest in resolving the issue of oil fields located in the Disputed Area Belt (DAB) with Assam.
In July 2022, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Rameswar Teli told Parliament that the ONGC was operating 8 oil fields in the DAB between Assam and Nagaland. He gave the information in reply to a query posed by Yepthomi.
“Nagaland government should discuss with Assam state government and Government of India and come to a conclusion on how the oil royalty should be shared,” Yepthomi told a press conference in Dimapur on January.
Citing data tabled in Parliament, Yepthomi further revealed that there are a total of 36 known oil fields located in between the (disputed) Assam-Nagaland boundary, out of which Assam is drawing revenue.
Assam, he said, collected over Rs 10,400 cr in oil revenue during 2011-22. From 2017-18 to 2021-22, the revenue was tipped at Rs 9899 cr. Basing on the figures, he estimated that Nagaland is losing Rs 5 cr daily or Rs 1825 cr annually in oil royalty as a result of Assam operating oil fields in the DAB.
Considering the amount of revenue at stake, he said that the state government has been asked to take it up with the Petroleum Ministry and also with the government of Assam as recently as 2020 November.
Inside Nagaland state proper, he said that there are 4 completed oil fields at Changpang, Hozukhe, Khopanala and Toshezu. Under Niuland district, there are three fields at Pihekhu, Nikihe and Tokishe, drilling activities in which were stopped by the Nagaland government in 2021. “But I believe oil is being extracted from Pihekhu and Nikihe, even presently,” Yepthomi said.
Queried if the Nagaland government has had any response from the ONGC and the Assam government with regard to the oil fields in the DAB, he said that the Nagaland government was not seriously taking up the matter with Assam and the GoI.
He though attributed the perceived unwillingness on the part of the Nagaland government to “controversies” vis-à-vis the unresolved Naga political issue and the rights guaranteed to land and its resources by Article 371 (A). “But whatever the case maybe, the state government should take the initiative to resolve all these issues and then discuss with the GoI and Assam and take what is due to us. But because of these two controversies maybe the state government is not taking keen interest,” he said.
The incomplete Medical colleges in Mon and Kohima, unemployment problem and the energy crisis in Nagaland were the other issues he raised. According to him, the Medical college in Kohima was delayed because of an “issue” with a group of land owners. Meanwhile, in Mon, he said that tender notice has yet to be issued even after the Union government has releasing Rs 242.5 cr of its share of 292.5 cr. The total fund allocation for the Mon medical college was Rs 325 cr.
On the issues he would take to Parliament, he said, “Political issue is one. But let’s keep our fingers crossed and wait (for) what is going to be after elections.”
