Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 26
The Eleventh Nagaland Legislative Assembly today adopted the Nagaland Ownership and Transfer of Land and its Resources in respect of Minerals including Petroleum and Natural Gas Resolution 2010.
Invoking Article 371(a) of the Constitution of India that provides special status to Nagaland in regard to ownership and transfer of land and its resources, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio moved the House for adoption of the resolution. He said the move has become necessary for the state of Nagaland to regulate by law, the ownership and transfer of land and its resources.
Moving the resolution for adoption, Rio said that the resolution says that no Act of Parliament in respect of ‘ownership and transfer of land and its resources’ which includes minerals, petroleum and natural gas, shall apply to the state of Nagaland.
“It is resolved that in respect of ownership and transfer of land and its resources, which includes minerals, petroleum and natural gas etc,” the state of Nagaland shall make appropriate modalities to apply and enforce in the state of Nagaland, he said.
Also, pointing out that the ownership of land and its resources is with the Naga people, the state of Nagaland representing the people shall, ‘therefore, have the jurisdiction in regulation and development over minerals including petroleum and natural gas etc in terms of usage and shall have the control on the matter of exploration and development in the state.’ This includes acquisition of mineral bearing areas, fixation of land compensation rates, landowners’ shares in the benefits or royalty arising out of extraction of the minerals.
The chief minister also said that in view of the requirement of getting the mandate of the people through a resolution in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, it was resolved that fresh modalities will be framed by the state of Nagaland on petroleum and natural gas exploration and development. After Speaker Kiyaneilie Peseyie put the resolution for discussion, consideration and vote, the resolution was unanimously adopted.
