Oil drilling: Public disrupt Tamenglong public hearing
Tamenglong DC, SP, VP of JOGPL bow down to public pressure
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 18, 2012:
The Public Hearing, which was carried out at Nungba Community Hall, Tamenglong yesterday to get the approval for Environment Clearance on the proposed Petroleum Exploration, Drilling and Allied Activities in Tamenglong district came to an abruptly end following strong public protest.
Preparation for conducting the public hearing, which was supposed to begin from 11 am Nungba Community Hall, began early in the morning yesterday.
As soon as Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong district C Arthur W; Vice President of Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Limited (JOGPL) Apoorva Ranjan and other government officials arrived, an angry mob thronged the venue and protested shouting slogans like "Stop Petroleum Exploration and Drilling in Manipur".
On account of the protest, the proposed public hearing wrapped up.
When Deputy Commissioner C Arthur W and other officials tried to leave, their vehicles were also surrounded by the protestors who forced them to give a written assurance stating that no oil exploration or drilling would be done in Tamenglong district.
Although the DC and the SP tried their level best to control the crowd, they were overpowered and forced to go back to the community hall along with Apoorva Ranjan and other officials and extracted a written assurance from them.
The written assurance stating, "PUBLIC HEARING TO THE PROPOSED EXPLORATORY DRILLING AND ALLIED ACTIVITIES (BLOCK AA-ONN-2009/2 and BLOCK AA-ONN/2009/1) at NUNGBA COMMUNINITY HALL COULD NOT BE CONDUCTED DUE TO THE HEAVY PUBLIC PROTEST.
HENCE, THE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE BLOCK 1 and 2, ARE THEREBY CANCELLED ONCE AND FOR ALL FOR TAMENGLONG DISTRICT" was jointly signed by Tamenglong DC C Arthur W; KJ Singh, Member Secretary, Manipur Pollution Control Board; Vice President of JOGPL Apoorva Ranjan.
In connection with their protest, spokespersons of Nungba Development Women's Society and All Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur told media persons asserted that the agitation was for the welfare of the future generations.
No one has the right to extract our natural resources.
All process should be stopped failing which various unwanted incidents might occur.
Meanwhile, the JAC formed against the proposed Petroleum Exploration, Drilling and Allied Activities has demanded complete halt of the process of exploration and drilling of petroleum in Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Jiribam; repeal of AFSPA, 1958 and the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 in Manipur.
It may be mentioned that Public Hearing carried out in Jiribam and Parbung were also disrupted following public agitations.