Meet says no to oil exploration in State
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 24 2017:
In
connection with the oil
exploration work carried out in
Imphal West district, Jiribam
and Tamenglong by private
firms without seeking prior
consent of the people and
obtaining necessary
documents, a public
consultation on oil exploration
in Manipur was held at Nupilan
Complex today wherein certain
resolutions were adopted.
The consultation meet was
jointly organised by Protection
and Preservation
Committee Manipur (PPCM),
Committee on Protection of
Natural Resources in Manipur
(CPNRM), Civil Society
Coalition on Human Rights
in Manipur and the UN, All
Tribal Student's Union
Manipur, Peace Core Team
Manipur, Khaidem Golden
Youth Club, Royal Young
Star Organisation and
Nganuleima Youth Development
Club.
The meet unanimously resolved that Asian Oil Field and Oil India
Limited should immediately stop all surveys and blasting activities
related to oil exploration and drilling in Manipur at Khaidem
village, Imphal West, Jiribam, Tamenglong and other parts of the
State.
The gathering expressed strong condemnation on the blasting
of explosives for oil survey carried out by Asian Oilfields
Survey Limited under Oil India Limited at Khaidem village,
Imphal West without conducting impact assessments of blasting
and taking prior consent of the people.
Reaffirming the resolutions passed in public meetings held
in Jiribam, Nungba and Imphal on December 22, 2011, March
14, 2012 and July 16, 2012 respectively against oil exploration
in the State, the meet demanded Oil India Limited to revoke
the contract awarded to Asian Oilfields at the earliest.
Government of India should cancel the Petroleum Exploration
Licenses to Jubilant Energy for oil blocks
AA-ONN-2009/2 and AA-ONN-2009/2 in Manipur.
Further,
Government of Manipur should withdraw all licenses awarded
to oil companies without the knowledge of the people, it
resolved.
The meet also resolved that Oil India Limited, Jubilant
Energy, Asian Oilfield, Alphageo and Government of India
should provide detailed information of Detailed Project Report,
Environment and Social Impact Assessments, Production
Sharing Contracts, Petroleum Exploration Licenses and other
agreements entered between Govcrnment of India and Government
of Manipur to the people of the State.
Government of India and oil companies should respect and
recognize that indigenous people of Manipur have intrinsic
rights for control and management over their land and resources
based on their wishes, aspirations and
self-determination, the public meet reaffirmed.
It may be mentioned that Asian Oilfield Survey Limited
fetched a contract worth Rs 143 crore from Oil India Limited.
The private firm began works of oil exploration at Jiribam two
months back and at Khaidem and its surrounding areas recently.