'Govt of India plotting to exploit petroleum products in state'
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 16 2012: In consonance with the secret approval given by the government of India to a Netherlands-based company to extract petroleum products from the state of Manipur, necessary ground works for extraction of the crude oil has been reportedly carried out without the knowledge of the people of the state.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) which was signed between the Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Limited, a Netherlands based company and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India in July, 2010 at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, gave green signal to the company to exploit the deposits of petroleum products found in Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Jiribam of Manipur.

For the first phase of its extraction process, the Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Limited has engaged the Alpha Geo Private Limited, a Hyderabad-based company to proceed with drilling of the ground for drawing out the petroleum deposits.

According to villagers who are engaged in the work, the process started in July 2011 .

Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, Mulan Golmei, Chairman of Mukti Village Authority, said that some of the officials of Alpha Geo Private Limited came to the village, which is under Nungba block of Tamenglong district, under the pretext of taking up developmental works in the area but gradually started digging up the ground in search of petroleum products.

Soon after the villagers realize the real intent of the officials was to extract petroleum products from the area, they forced the officials to cease the work and imposed fine on them in accordance to customary laws.

Golmei further informed that the company officials came back after some time and said that they have got the approval of the United Naga Council (UNC) and resumed the digging process.

Although the villagers cannot object since the company officials have the approval of UNC now, yet the extraction of petroleum products is not going to be any use not only to the villagers but also to the state as a whole.

So, the work should be stopped at once, Golmei observed.

Paokhuilung Gangmei, President of Rongdai village, also said that the officials of Alpha Geo Private Limited had come to the village with false promises of providing water, electricity, good roads and better education facilities, etc but they dug up only holes.

At present, the process of digging up the ground is said to be in progress in Sibilon village.

Gaichaidin Kamei, a village member told Hueiyen Lanpao that the officials of Alpha Geo Private Limited were given the permission to carry out a survey in the village after the villagers were promised of constructing roads and building of village Authority office.

Agitating against the move to extract petroleum products from Manipur and the proposed construction of the controversial Tipaimukh Dam, a public rally was taken out in and around Nungba Bazaar on March 14 .

Organised under the initiative of Zeliangrong Indigenous People's Forum, a public meeting was also held at Nungba Bazaar after the protest rally which was attended by volunteers of CCDD, ACTIP, COLNER, INTACH, SIPHRO, ZU, AZSU, ZSUM and various other CSOs.

During the rally, the protestors were seen carrying placards and festoons inscribed with wordings like "No extraction of Petroleum Products", "Tipaimukh Dam should not be constructed", "Our land cannot be given to others" and "Do not violate the rights of indigenous people" etc.

Lodi Kamei, Secretary of Zeliangrong Union; John Pamei, President, of Zaliangrong Students Union; Paokhuilung Gangmei, Village Chief of Rongjei; Aram Pamei, President of Naga Women's Union; Oinam Rajen, Secretary of All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen Union, Yembem Laba, ex-member of Manipur Human Rights Commission and Dr Bobby Roy, Director of CORE were among others who addressed the public meeting.

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