Dimapur, May 14 (MExN): The Nagaland government-appointed Cabinet Sub-Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas has reiterated its appeal to the agitating Kyong Students’ Union (KSU) to call off its agitation with the assurance that the modalities to resuming oil production activities are expected by May.
Nonetheless, the Cabinet strongly alluded that forming modalities concerning a resource such as petroleum is not a task that is easily undertaken. Chairman of the committee, HK Khulu, IAS, issued a statement today explaining the process and the works undertaken so far to frame the modalities as demanded by the Kyong organization. The committee is as eager as the State to resume economic activities, the committee stated, and the drafted modalities are expected by May.
Khulu expressed shock to have read of the KSU’s second-phase agitation which started following an ultimatum to the Cabinet committee to set the modalities for resumption of petroleum production activities within 45 days. The committee reiterated that the matter has been clarified earlier. The legal and “techno-economic consultants” of ‘global competence’ have been appointed and draft modalities are expected by May. After it, there shall have to be consultations with stakeholders and the “acceptable draft” would be submitted to the Cabinet; following it, due government protocol and formalities have to be in order to implement the modalities, the committee reminded.
The committee reminded the KSU further that the committee is answerable only to the State’s Cabinet. All administrative matters are to be dealt only by the government department/agency in concern and in accordance with existing laws. The committee is not mandated with administrative powers for any direct administrative interface with any organization, individual or groups, the press release from the committee stated.
“Enough mistakes have been committed in the past with regard to petroleum an natural gas, in particular an land and its resources in general in Nagaland in the past 49 years of statehood. It is time for Nagas to rise and stand together as a small but effective entity in the vast ocean of the Indian union, to take Nagaland forward and more importantly for ensuring a brighter future for the future generations.” The committee reminded that the KSU is an apex organization of a community and should ponder on solution and constructive criticism.
The committee has reiterated its appeal to the KSU to call of its agitation in the interest of the Nagaland people and the future generation. The anxiety of the students’ organization is noted by the committee, which, the statement said, is equally anxious to resume economic activities at the earliest.
