Minister for Planning and Coordination TR Zeliang addresses the crowd at the two-day 10th general conference of the Peren District Dobashis’ Association at Athbibung on November 9.
Athibung, November 10 (MExN): Minister for Planning and Coordination TR Zeliang has said that Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution is the last citadel left for the Nagas to ‘defend’ their customary rights and traditional practices. The minister has cautioned that much of it use is going ‘underwater’ because of the ignorance and lackadaisical attitude of customary custodians such as the ‘Dobashis’ and ‘GBs’ (runners) and those in the field of judiciary in the state. Addressing the two-day 10th general conference of the Peren District Dobashis’ Association at Athbibung on November 9, TR Zeliang emphasized on the urgent need to uphold Article 371 (A) to protect and preserve the unique Naga customary rights and practices; protection from it being infringed upon by ‘alien laws.’
“And to do this Dobashis and Goanburas are the right institution to uphold and keep this Article alive”, Zeliang said, as quoted in a press note issued by Karaibo, personal secretary to Minister Planning. India has given the Nagas freedom under the Article, but the statute is gradually losing its significance because of ‘so many factors’ that need urgent attention, he said.
Minister Zeliang also said that “land and its resource” mentioned in the Article include both surface and under-earth resources and cannot be affected by any Indian laws unless Nagas decides so. “As such, for short term benefit we should not sold out our rights but uphold Article 371 (A) persistently so that we do not commit mistake and let our future generation suffer”, he said. Minister, however, said that Article 371(A) should not be an obstacle to surface infrastructural development like roads.
Interests taking advantage of the article and problems of land ownership have obstructed many developmental works, Zeliang said. He termed the matter as ‘regrettable’ and has called upon the Dobashis to see that such obstruction don’t take place in their areas.
Referring to the approved four-lane highway between Dimapur and Kohima, Zeliang said the project could not take off because land compensation became become costlier than the actual project cost. “We should know that surface infrastructure development like road is important and must be encouraged instead of being an obstacle. BRTF or BRO or other developmental agencies are not going to take away, therefore, should be allow”, he said.
On Oil Exploration
TR Zeliang said that only those company who agree to abide by the modalities adopted by the state government will be allow for exploration of oil and natural gas in the state. Asserting that modalities will not be only for particular area but for the whole of Nagaland state, Zeliang called upon the be people to have patients and let the government work out proper modalities so that Nagas don’t commit the same past mistake and let the future generation suffer.
“Nagas have been badly deceived by India while exploring oil and natural gas in the past. We have immunity under article 371 (a) to protect our resources but we have been gullible and ignorance and we won’t allow that to happen again”, Minister, who is also a convener of cabinet sub-committee on Oil and Natural, said. Recounting the series of events leading to oil exploration in state particularly Changpang area under Wokha district, TR Zeliang said that from 1962 to 1971 the government of India had been exploring natural resources from Nagaland “without the knowledge of the Nagas in total disregards of its unique customary rights.”
When the license was granted to ONGC for trial exploration in 1982, the company had taken 1.52 million tons of oil much beyond the permitted quantity amounting to Rs 7000 crore in 12 years (that is from 1982-1994) from Changpang area without any accountability and transparency. The Rs 33 crore royalty paid to state government and Rs 80 lakhs paid to the land owner was also never known for how much of oil it was paid and what was the exact percentage, he said. “In this manner, we have been deceived badly. So Dobashis should be alert in this kind of issue,” the minister said.
“And to do this Dobashis and Goanburas are the right institution to uphold and keep this Article alive”, Zeliang said, as quoted in a press note issued by Karaibo, personal secretary to Minister Planning. India has given the Nagas freedom under the Article, but the statute is gradually losing its significance because of ‘so many factors’ that need urgent attention, he said.
Minister Zeliang also said that “land and its resource” mentioned in the Article include both surface and under-earth resources and cannot be affected by any Indian laws unless Nagas decides so. “As such, for short term benefit we should not sold out our rights but uphold Article 371 (A) persistently so that we do not commit mistake and let our future generation suffer”, he said. Minister, however, said that Article 371(A) should not be an obstacle to surface infrastructural development like roads.
Interests taking advantage of the article and problems of land ownership have obstructed many developmental works, Zeliang said. He termed the matter as ‘regrettable’ and has called upon the Dobashis to see that such obstruction don’t take place in their areas.
Referring to the approved four-lane highway between Dimapur and Kohima, Zeliang said the project could not take off because land compensation became become costlier than the actual project cost. “We should know that surface infrastructure development like road is important and must be encouraged instead of being an obstacle. BRTF or BRO or other developmental agencies are not going to take away, therefore, should be allow”, he said.
On Oil Exploration
TR Zeliang said that only those company who agree to abide by the modalities adopted by the state government will be allow for exploration of oil and natural gas in the state. Asserting that modalities will not be only for particular area but for the whole of Nagaland state, Zeliang called upon the be people to have patients and let the government work out proper modalities so that Nagas don’t commit the same past mistake and let the future generation suffer.
“Nagas have been badly deceived by India while exploring oil and natural gas in the past. We have immunity under article 371 (a) to protect our resources but we have been gullible and ignorance and we won’t allow that to happen again”, Minister, who is also a convener of cabinet sub-committee on Oil and Natural, said. Recounting the series of events leading to oil exploration in state particularly Changpang area under Wokha district, TR Zeliang said that from 1962 to 1971 the government of India had been exploring natural resources from Nagaland “without the knowledge of the Nagas in total disregards of its unique customary rights.”
When the license was granted to ONGC for trial exploration in 1982, the company had taken 1.52 million tons of oil much beyond the permitted quantity amounting to Rs 7000 crore in 12 years (that is from 1982-1994) from Changpang area without any accountability and transparency. The Rs 33 crore royalty paid to state government and Rs 80 lakhs paid to the land owner was also never known for how much of oil it was paid and what was the exact percentage, he said. “In this manner, we have been deceived badly. So Dobashis should be alert in this kind of issue,” the minister said.
