TR Zeliang is seen here addressing officials of the Department of Geology and Mining.
DIMAPUR, JUNE 16 (MExN): Minister of Geology and Mining for the Government of Nagaland, TR Zeliang, while stressing on the importance of “economic independence” as a precursor to “wide political respect” stated that a major step towards this independence could be “the self realization on the economic potentials buried beneath…in the form of oil, gas and other mineral sources.”
Zeliang informed that the Ministerial Group (MG), under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio met on Friday, June 14 June and directed the Board on Petroleum & Natural Gas to issue letters to Naga Hoho and ENPO in order to obtain No Objection Certificates (NOC) from all the tribal Hohos, as per the decisions taken by the MG on May 22, 2013.
He has hoped that “all tribal Hohos of Nagaland will understand the need of the hour and act promptly for the economic benefit of the state and its people.”
In a document released to the media today, titled ‘a word of caution to the Nagas on oil and natural gas’, the Minister highlighted the recent remarks of Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Veerappa Moily.
Lamenting over the rising import bills of oil & gas, Moily has faulted import lobbies, said to be in regular receipt of hefty commissions, for obstructing production of oil and gas within the country which are plentifully available. The Union Minister for Petroleum also hinted at the complicity of bureaucracy in impeding the realization of hydrocarbon wealth within the Nation.
“This is a word of caution for the Nagas,” explains Zeliang in the note, “as the same kind of lobby could deliberately attempt to distort and apply delaying tactics by some elements who are against the state’s new policies.”
In an attempt to explain that the legal framework enforced in the state for the oil and gas operations, has been upheld constitutionally correct by the Union Government on the floor of Parliament, Zeliang explains the historical road to the same. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, he says, had taken a span of four years to come up to this conclusive legislative process, after considering the entire gamut of legal and constitutional aspects. Application of the ultimate legislative powers under article 371A(1)(a) of the Constitution of India led to the passing of the first Resolution by the State Legislative Assembly (July 2010) putting a permanent end to all central laws on the ownership and transfer of land and its resources including oil & natural gas in Nagaland.
Terming the Resolution of July 2010 a “milestone” in the history of legislation in the State, and the only amendment motion to be passed in a legislative process in the State Assembly, Zeliang noted, “The opposition, showed its commitment to the ‘Naga rights’, supporting the treasury benches by bringing out an amendment motion to the resolution. This amendment, by the virtue of adopting and endorsing the article 371A, the ownership of land its resources came wholly under the purview of the customary laws and practices.”
For the Minister, this “marked the single voice of the political system, regardless of color and party affiliations on the ‘Naga rights’ that paved the way for unanimously adopting the July 2010 resolution in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.”
Further, Zeliang explains, “In the past, the operators had only looked for oil and natural gas according to their convenience, as a result of which, the Exploration and discovery of oil and gas were confined only to the foothills and left out the hill areas unexplored. Now, under the new regulation and rules (2012), contemplates vigorous exercise of exploring all the 11 Zones that covers the entire geographical area of the state.”
