Morung Express News
Kohima | December 5
The issue of oil exploration in Champang area appears to be getting more complex and elusive as the three parties, the ONGC, the State Government and the Lotha Hoho began to play blame game, apart from the steep opposition from students’ body and the underground groups. Today’s meeting between the Lotha Hoho and ONGC officials held at Hotel Japfu, with State government as a facilitator, was reported to have ended inconclusively, although, both sides had a prolonged deliberations over many issues.
While the State government charged that the ONGC doesn’t want to give up the operation completely in Champang area, but is too scared to resume the exploration works the Lotha Hoho on its part was still not satisfied even after enhancing the extra royalty of 2%. The Lotha Hoho remained firm that unless the State Government meets its demands it will not allow the resumption of oil exploration. The Lotha Hoho is also reported to have accused the ONGC of not being transparent in revealing the quantity of oil extracted in the previous exploration.
Petroleum is a central subject, as such if the state government went on their own it may lead to constitutional break down, an official said on condition of anonymity. The state government, therefore, arbitrarily cannot allot to other companies, though some foreign companies have also expressed their desire to come and explore oil in Nagaland.
The State government has reportedly asked the ONGC to nominate other companies, if they do not want to resume exploration, but the corporation has not responded so far to the idea, the official said.
It is also learnt that Nagaland Government has told the ONGC to begin exploring oil in other non-Lotha areas like Mon, Dimapur, and Mokokchung during the period of the stalemate over Champang. However, the ONGC was unable to give any positive stand to the proposal, as they wanted first to resume exploration in Champang area, which they have started two decades back.
Meanwhile, Lotha President, Nyambemo Ngullie, told The Morung Express after the meeting with ONGC today that they are not against ONGC, but, decided to oppose the exploration as the State Government refused to meet its charter of demands. Nyambemo said that Lotha Hoho and the ONGC had a discussion on many points like irregularities but did not resolve anything on the issue.
The Lotha Hoho’s main demand from the State Government, he said, is the enhancement of royalty to 5%, while it wants ONGC to start its refinery in Nagaland itself. “We are yet to discuss with the State Government. Unless the State Government agrees to meet the demand of Lotha people, deadlock will continue”, Nyambemo said, adding that he will have further discussions with his executives on how to present their demands before the State Government.
On the other hand, source disclosed that Lotha Hoho preferred other company in place of ONGC, and today’s meeting ended in deadlock as the Lotha Hoho refused to accept the offers made by the ONGC. Source also said that ONGC has offered Lotha Hoho benefits like school for children, road construction, local employment and many other things, but Lotha Hoho backed out accusing the corporation of not being transparent in revealing the amount of oil and natural gas extracted in the earlier operations.
Highly placed source of the State Government said that it had acted only as facilitator in today’s meeting and the discussion was only between the Lotha Hoho and the ONGC officials. ONGC officials on their part raised security-related issues and reportedly wanted assurance from the State Government and Lotha Hoho in order to resume the oil exploration.
