No oil exploration in disputed areas without consulting all stakeholders and tribal bodies in the area, says Nagaland government

Following opposition to oil exploration in Nagaland, the state government has stated that exploration in the disputed areas with Assam will not start before consulting all stakeholders and tribal bodies of the area.Nagaland deputy chief minister Y Patton on Friday said, “The government will hold a consultative meeting with all stakeholders before signing the MoU with Assam government. The government will hold consultation with tribal bodies and civil societies of the oil-bearing areas of Nagaland—Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Wokha, Nuiland, Dimapur and Peren.”The NSCN-IM and Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) , both of which are in the peace process, said that the natural minerals and resources should not be explored without arriving at a final solution to the Naga political issue.

Oil India Limited (OIL) plans to start exploration in Nagaland once the climate is conducive. OIL is planning to do a 3D seismic survey of 4000 sq km of area in Upper Assam.

OIL has done seismic data accusation of the areas in the Northern bank of Brahmaputra in Assam.

OIL has a 3000 sq. km area in Nagaland. Dr Ranjit Rath chairman and Managing Director OLI who was in Guwahati on Monday while talking to media persons said, “We already started exploration in Mizoram. Further study is going on to further explore. In Tripura we have assets and exploration is done. In the Northern bank of Brahmaputra River Pathshala and Mangaldoi are covered under Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) bidding. We have done seismic data acquisition.”

He added, “We are carrying out exploration in Arunachal Pradesh, we have planned extensive drilling and production is going on. In Nagaland till the time there was a dispute between Assam and Nagaland that was getting sorted out. There is a lot of discussion going on. We have 3000 sq km of exploration acreage in Nagaland. “

Rath said, “Once there is a climate of sorted out issues we will immediately have started exploration. We strongly believe that both the Assam shelf where we have the main producing area, and the Assam- Arakan fold belt which is in the South East of Assam shelf covering Nagaland has enough potential.”

CMs of Assam, Nagaland held talks on settlement of border dispute, agreed in-principle on exploring oil in disputed areas for economic benefit recently. Both states have in-principle decided to go in for a MoU on oil exploration in the disputed areas along the inter-state boundary so that oil can be extracted and royalties shared between the neighbouring states.

ONGC had earlier stopped E&P activities in Nagaland in 1994 after the militant outfit NSCN (IM) asked it to quit the state.

Rath said, “In Manipur we are taking up baseline assessment of the areas in Nagaland border and some areas will be picked up for explorations.