Nagaland not to explore oil in disputed areas

GUWAHATI: After protests from various quarters, including NSCN (IM), the Nagaland government has decided not to go ahead with plans to facilitate resumption of oil exploration in the disputed areas with Assam without 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 the Assam government.”
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Nagaland counterpart, Neiphiu Rio, have agreed in principle to facilitate the exploration in the disputed areas and both states were scheduled to start discussions this week.
The Nagaland 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. Patton did not specify the date for holding the consultative meeting.
The Lotha Hoho, an apex body of Wokha district which has rich depository of oil in Nagaland, had objected taking the stand on Article 371(A) of the Constitution which gives special protection to the Nagas on land and other rights. It said MoU cannot be signed without the involvement of the community.
As per Article 371(A), land and its resources belong to the people, and not the government, in Nagaland.
The NSCN-IM and Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), both of which are in peace process, said the natural mineral resources should not be explored without arriving at a final solution to the Naga political issue.