Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 15
The Nagaland government has rejected the “new” proposal-Memorandum of Understanding of the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). The “new MoU” had been lobbied for the government’s approval by the oil giant to partnering in oil-production activities in the state, with particular reference to Champang.
Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner Lalthara, IAS disclosed that the ONGC has been ‘bringing’ a “new” MoU for quite some time now. Informing that the corporation and the state government have been in meeting for several times, Lalthara said it was rejected. It is understood that the corporation has been lobbying for the state’s appending the proposal for months ever since Canadian company Canoro Resources Ltd took to undertaking oil exploration activities in the Champang belt early this year.
The reason the state government refused the MoU, Lalthara informed, was because of opposition from Lotha frontals like the Lotha Hoho and Lotha Students’ Union. Also, the sentiments of the people must be considered. “We don’t want to trample upon the sentiments of the people” he said.
However, a policy-determining factor was also another reason the ONGC’s proposal was rejected: “The (Lotha frontals) must make clear their position on the issue (of oil explorations).” Referring to the “awareness campaign” on oil production activities organized by the LSU yesterday in Wokha, the ACS said no concrete resolutions were taken, with the exception of discussions and inviting ‘suggestions.’
Lalthara also said that the ONGC’s proposed MoU contained points on undertaking oil production activities alongside people-SOPs like undertaking developmental activities, concentration of contract works to the local populace and ‘building up socio-economic works.’
In a related matter, Lalthara said the state government’s order for cancellation of the permits issued by the Champang Village Council has been implemented. He was responding to a query on reports that the NSCN-IM was pressurizing the Wokha Deputy Commissioner’s office not to implement the said order.
Meanwhile, the Lotha Students’ Union has taken strong cognizance of ‘certain vested individuals’ manipulating the local media for vested interests in Champang village. LSU president Nzanthung K Yanthan referred to reports that media persons were entertained in Champang today and made to go about interviewing people and writing about the issue. Yanthan said such activities should not go about without the knowledge of the Lotha Hoho or the LSU. He implied that various companies and sections of the landowners themselves have been bringing in media people, “dividing the people.” “Press people taken to ONGC are being made to go around interviewing the people. We will not allow such activities” he said. The LSU chief implied that each group with vested interest seem to be bringing in the media to highlight the oil issue according to own perspective. The motive should be to highlight the credibility of an honorable, beneficial and acceptable resolution to the problem and not toward feeding vested interests. “They (those responsible for employing media services) should not do it in such a way that divides the people” Yanthan said. The union said the reports are being enquired about and inputs are awaited.
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