Dimapur, July 26 (MExN): The Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation (LLRPO) resented the announcement of the Ministerial Group on Petroleum & Natural Gas 2023-2028 constituted by the Governor of Nagaland.
LLRPO, President, T Amos Kikon and General Secretary, Yansathung Jami in a press release stated that it is “shocked” at the announcement, where “Bhandari HQ the oil-bearing area and the first oil extraction area in Nagaland is neglected as our local area MLA i.e. 40 Assembly Constituency is not seen in the list of the members.”
“Bhandari Assembly Constituency is been rejected and neglected over the years for which we seek inclusiveness and an accommodative spirit upon the State Government,” it stated.
LLRPO made an appeal to the State Government to include the MLA 40th Bhandari A/C as a “co-opted member” if not Ministerial Group Member of P&NG for smooth and successful implementation, and assured to “extend support and cooperation.”
Meanwhile, the LLRPO put on record that “for the first time in the State of Nagaland, crude oil was struck and extraction works started from Changpang-Tssori, Wokha by the ONGC in 1973. However, the State Government of Nagaland suspended all its Petroleum & Natural Gas extraction activities through Naga Public agitation on May 5, 1994.”
“Therefore, we will like to appeal to the State government to start exploring and carrying out the extraction works with prior consultation by sitting across the table with the land owners/stakeholders including the apex organization of the Lotha Hoho and all frontal organization under LLRPO,” it demanded.
