An oil well rig surrounded by spilt crude oil seen here in one of the many abandoned oil fields of Champang village. The Media say crude oil has been spilling from the oil rigs for about 16 years now and has turned the villages of Champang and Tssori in Wokha district of Nagaland, into ‘cluster of little combustible neighborhoods’ since the ONGC stopped oil extraction activities in 1994.
The long and exceptionally tumultuous history of oil and natural gas exploration in Nagaland since March 1981 marked yet another significant twist today with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) having been filed against the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in the Guwahati High Court.
Rs. 1, 000 Crore compensation for villagers, criminal proceedings against ONGC, Govt officials sought
A copy of the PIL, obtained by The Morung Express, held primarily the ONGC and the Nagaland state government for the wide-ranging damage the oil enterprise has inflicted on the economic lives of villagers living in the crude oil-rich swathes.
In the PIL representing Champang village and Tssori village – Nagaland’s only two areas rich in crude petroleum – the petitioners have sought at least Rs. 1, 000 Crore as consolidated compensation to the villagers for the damage the now about-16 years of unabated oil spillage the ONGC left behind, has caused to the two areas.
The Media has been highlighting regularly the condition of the contaminated soil and water the oil spill has caused on the area. The two villages have been referred by newspapers as ‘cluster of little combustible neighborhoods. The catastrophe did not look imminent when ONGC began a survey in the oil fields in 1963.
Likewise, the petition to the Court has sought payment for the loss of oil from the oil spill and that the High Court order the ONGC and the state government of Nagaland to clean up the waste that has reduced the two areas in a virtual economic and environmental nightmare. Further, the petition has appealed to the court to prosecute and initiate criminal proceedings against the officials of the ONGC as well as the state government and Central government, accused as being ‘responsible for such damages.’
The Petitioners are Mmhonlumo Kikon & Others Versus the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd, the Basin Manager of ONGC, Cinnamara in Jorhat, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, the State of Nagaland, the Nagaland Geology and Mining Department, Nagaland Forest Department, the Nagaland State Pollution Control Board and the Union of India represented by the Ministry of Petroleum and another, the Natural Gas and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
The PIL has alleged large-scale oil spillage in Champang and Tssori villages in Wokha district ‘due to willful negligence of the authorities to take appropriate steps to stop the oil spilling from oil rigs/oil wells situated in the oil fields. The oil spill began after the ONGC halted production in May 1994 following opposition Naga organizations.
The petitioners accused the respondents for failing to take action and prevent and protect the environment and ecological system in the two villages. The petitioners have appealed to the court to enforce the legal and fundamental rights of the people of Champang and Tssori by declaring the actions/inaction of the respondents as illegal and unconstitutional.
The petitioners appealed to the court for about Rs. 1, 000 crore as consolidated compensation to the villagers for damage to their health, economy, agricultural land and activities due to the oil spill. According to media reports earlier, ONGC has paid a royalty of Rs 33.83 crore to the Nagaland government, but of that only Rs 67 lakh ‘reached the village.’
The PIL requested the High Court to direct particularly the ONGC and the Government of Nagaland to immediately clean up the oil spill within a stipulated time. Along with this action, the High Court is requested to direct the Government of Nagaland not to enter into any negotiation, understanding or permission with the ONGC or other companies (Indian and foreign) working on oil exploration, extraction or production to explore, extract oil in the state of Nagaland till the impact of oil spill affected area is redressed.
Stating the circumstances, the petitioners have appealed to the Court to initiate criminal proceedings and prosecution of the officials of the ONGC as well as the state government and central government.
Rs. 1, 000 Crore compensation for villagers, criminal proceedings against ONGC, Govt officials sought
A copy of the PIL, obtained by The Morung Express, held primarily the ONGC and the Nagaland state government for the wide-ranging damage the oil enterprise has inflicted on the economic lives of villagers living in the crude oil-rich swathes.
In the PIL representing Champang village and Tssori village – Nagaland’s only two areas rich in crude petroleum – the petitioners have sought at least Rs. 1, 000 Crore as consolidated compensation to the villagers for the damage the now about-16 years of unabated oil spillage the ONGC left behind, has caused to the two areas.
The Media has been highlighting regularly the condition of the contaminated soil and water the oil spill has caused on the area. The two villages have been referred by newspapers as ‘cluster of little combustible neighborhoods. The catastrophe did not look imminent when ONGC began a survey in the oil fields in 1963.
Likewise, the petition to the Court has sought payment for the loss of oil from the oil spill and that the High Court order the ONGC and the state government of Nagaland to clean up the waste that has reduced the two areas in a virtual economic and environmental nightmare. Further, the petition has appealed to the court to prosecute and initiate criminal proceedings against the officials of the ONGC as well as the state government and Central government, accused as being ‘responsible for such damages.’
The Petitioners are Mmhonlumo Kikon & Others Versus the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd, the Basin Manager of ONGC, Cinnamara in Jorhat, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, the State of Nagaland, the Nagaland Geology and Mining Department, Nagaland Forest Department, the Nagaland State Pollution Control Board and the Union of India represented by the Ministry of Petroleum and another, the Natural Gas and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
The PIL has alleged large-scale oil spillage in Champang and Tssori villages in Wokha district ‘due to willful negligence of the authorities to take appropriate steps to stop the oil spilling from oil rigs/oil wells situated in the oil fields. The oil spill began after the ONGC halted production in May 1994 following opposition Naga organizations.
The petitioners accused the respondents for failing to take action and prevent and protect the environment and ecological system in the two villages. The petitioners have appealed to the court to enforce the legal and fundamental rights of the people of Champang and Tssori by declaring the actions/inaction of the respondents as illegal and unconstitutional.
The petitioners appealed to the court for about Rs. 1, 000 crore as consolidated compensation to the villagers for damage to their health, economy, agricultural land and activities due to the oil spill. According to media reports earlier, ONGC has paid a royalty of Rs 33.83 crore to the Nagaland government, but of that only Rs 67 lakh ‘reached the village.’
The PIL requested the High Court to direct particularly the ONGC and the Government of Nagaland to immediately clean up the oil spill within a stipulated time. Along with this action, the High Court is requested to direct the Government of Nagaland not to enter into any negotiation, understanding or permission with the ONGC or other companies (Indian and foreign) working on oil exploration, extraction or production to explore, extract oil in the state of Nagaland till the impact of oil spill affected area is redressed.
Stating the circumstances, the petitioners have appealed to the Court to initiate criminal proceedings and prosecution of the officials of the ONGC as well as the state government and central government.
Morung Express News
