Nagaland state coal, oil and natural gas policies enforced

The Nagaland Coal Policy and Nagaland Coal Mining Rules are being enforced in the State. Toward this, the Department of Geology and Mining has issued 17 coal mining leases, and 9 small pocket deposit licenses to individuals and coal companies.

17 mineral check gates at various exits, two weigh bridges and a rest house has so far been constructed, according to the annual administrative report of the Department tabled in the recently concluded Nagaland Legislative Assembly session by Minister for Geology & Mining, T.R. Zeliang.

The report said the royalty on coal has also been enhanced to Rs. 290 per ton for licensees.

The Nagaland State Government has introduced a new system for payment of ‘Naga Commission’ to the land owners through the village council. The district-in-charge concerned is authorized to collect and deduct 10% ‘Naga Commission’ directly from the licensees and coal operators, and deposit the same into the Department’s account. The ‘Naga Commission’ has to be released to the land owners through the district administration.

The report also stated that the Department had already drafted a new Nagaland Coal Policy 2014 and the same is under consideration of the Government for implementation.

Nagaland Oil and Natural Gas Rules and Regulations, 2012
The State Government has also notified the Nagaland Oil and Natural Gas, Regulation 2012 and Nagaland Oil and Natural Gas Rules, 2012. In this regard, the State Government has floated Expression of Interests (EOIs), as a response to which 23 oil companies expressed interest.

Three “oil zones” in Nagaland have now been awarded to two companies- M/S Metropolitan Oil and Gas Pvt Ltd (Wokha and Peren Zones) and M/S Assam Company India Limited (Mon Zone).

The Department has conducted several public awareness programmes on oil and natural gas issue during 2013 -14.

The report stated that civil construction work at Changpang oilfield, Wokha district, was taken up during 2013-14. 23 oil wells got brick wall fencing for curtailment of oil spillage, minor soiling and metalling of oil well link road had been done, as well as the construction of a bridge over Sotsulangta River at Changpang oilfield. Two oil spillage wells at Changpang oilfield were inspected, reports of which were submitted to the Government.

Referring to works related to exploration and mining of petroleum and natural gas, the report stated field and site visit works in the foothill areas pertaining to petroleum and natural gas deposits, surface occurrences of petroleum and locations of village covering the districts of Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Wokha and Peren. More emphasis was given to Changpang Oilfield, Wameken and Singpahn area.

Ground geological records and data were generated. Map and data plotting for Wokha district on 1:50,000 scale covering 1615 sq.km area was completed while map plotting for occurrences in all of Nagaland is under completion.

The report stated the mining section is looking after mineral administration, mines management, implementation of coal policy and oil and natural gas activities in the State.