Oil exploration exercise kicks up controversy
Public meet vetoes oil exploration
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 29, 2012::
In line with the resolutions adopted during the State Level Convention on Petroleum Exploration at Manipur Press Club on July 16, a public meeting held at Jiribam today has decided to oppose exploration of petroleum products and all allied activities.
The State level convention at Imphal was attended by representatives from Zeliangrong Students' Union, Zeliangrong Baudi, Naga Women's Union, North East Dialogue Forum, Zomi Human Rights Foundation, Singlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organisation, Lifewatch, ACTIP, CCDD, Tamenglong VA and Naga People's Movement for Human Rights.
The public meeting was held at the JIMPAL office.
After due deliberations on the issue at hand the public meeting resolved that the drilling work for oil exploration carried out by the Netherlands based Jubilant Oil and Gas Pvt Ltd under an agreement with the Government of India should immediately stop.
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The survey work con ducted by the Hyderabad based Alpha Geo Company too should be put to a halt, demanded the public meeting.
Moreover the meeting unanimously resolved to stay away from the public meet ings convened on July 30 and August 7 and August 17 at Jiribam, Parbung and Nungba respectively for the purpose of oil exploration.
President of JAC on Hydrocarbon and Resources Paokhui Gangmei,president of Hmar Inpui Amo, advisor of JIMPAL Sarat and convenor of COHR Phulindro Konsam attended the public meeting as presidium members.
Addressing the public meeting, Joint Secretary of CCDD and Committee co-convenor Jiten Yumnam said that Jubilant Limited has been awarded a contract by the Ministry of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation to extract petroleum products from Manipur.
The contract was given under the New Exploration Licensing Policy Eight Round (NELP-VIII) covering a total area of 3850 square kilometre which is one sixth of the total land area of Manipur.
The State Government signed another contract with Jubilant Ltd on November 15,2010. However despite the contracts, the people are still in the dark over the whole exercise.
There is however the possibility that there may be 5000 billion cubic feet of crude oil reserve in two blocks in the State, he added.
Giving details he informed the gathering that Alpha Geo during its seismic survey has detected 30 potential oil well for which 8 million US dollar will be pumped in.
The return from this investment will jump to over 240 million US dollar.
Just as in the case of Tipaimukh dam, here too the people have been kept in the dark and as such there is no reason for the people to give their consent.
COHR convenor Phulindro Konsam talked at length on the adverse impact that the oil exploration exercise could wreak.