Dimapur, December 21 (MExN): In a significant statement from the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) concerning the oil spill in Changpang village in Wokha today, the NSF has served a 6-point charter of demands to the Government of Nagaland, to be addressed ‘immediately.’ The NSF issued a copy of a letter addressed to the Convener of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Land & Natural Resources, Government of Nagaland.
The demands placed on the government’s table must be addressed immediately to mitigate the misery of the people of Changpang village – the site of oil spill from abandoned oil rigs left by the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation, the NSF said. The charter of the NSF demanded rehabilitation measures for the villagers, immediate containment of the oil spillages and implementation of safety measures, provision of accessible and “motor able” road connectivity, electricity supply, provision of potable drinking water facilities and creation of primary health centers.
The federation has demanded a ‘time-bound written assurance’ from the government on the stated demands. Failing to do so, the letter said, the NSF would be compelled to an own course of action to ensure that the genuine grievances of the affected communities are effectively addressed once and for all.
The NSF has censured the “delay tactics of the concerned authority” in addressing the issue. “(The NSF) thus cautions that if any disaster erupts from the abandoned oil rigs leading to loss of life and property and destruction of natural resources the government shall be held solely responsible,” the letter said. The letter was appended by NSF chief Kelhouneizo Yhome and general secretary N Ejanthung Ngullie.
The apex Naga students’ organization reiterated its consent to “acceptable, beneficial and honorable” settlement of the issue for the people on matters pertaining to exploration of oil and natural gas in the Naga-inhabited areas. The letter said that NSF leaders who visited the spot and held discussion with the affected communities on September 16, 2011 found that the “concerned authority” had failed to take any tangible action to mitigating the “peoples’ misery,” in spite of various appeals and representations made on this particular issue.
“The federation is truly convinced that the genuine suffering of the people deserves immediate redressal from the concerned authority. Therefore, while extending its fullest support and cooperation to the government, the federation is constraint to bring forward the following grievances of the people to be addressed on priority,” the letter said.
Due to the massive oil spill from the abandoned oil fields at ‘Changpang ONGC’ since 1994, the committee was told, the villagers have been facing numerous hardships and untold miseries in their lives since the hazard came to be.
“As the government is aware, there has been massive social, economic and environment impacts due to the spillages which are tantamount to the violation of human rights under constitution of India and also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948),” the NSF said.
The incessant oil spillage from the “improperly abandoned” oil rigs pose not only serious environmental hazards but has also endangered the very livelihood of the local populace due to soil and water pollution adversely affecting their agricultural practices, the NSF said.
