Issues of oil exploration discussed
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, August 22 2013:
"Poor knowledge of the affected people on the oil exploration in Manipur has led to the authorities engaged in oil exploration to take advantage of the situation," said New Delhi based journalist David Buril.
He said while the survey was still underway, public hearings got started on oil exploration, pointed out David Buril.
The journalist said this during the 'Project Launching' programme of the Coalition on Environment and Natural Resources (CENRs) today at ICI Council Hall, Gospel Centenary Building, Churachandpur (south Manipur) .
Meanwhile, delivering a key note address on the occasion, Mary Beth Sanate, convenor of CENRs said the Coalition on Environment and Natural Resources is a network of civil societies from affected communities of oil exploration plan in Manipur.
Sanate also said the CENRs was born in December, 2012 with the kicking-off of a 'workshop and planning' in Nepal.
According to Mary Beth Sanate, CENRs has a firm believe that exploration of oil is historically associated with exclusionary politics, exploitation, criminality and conflict.
She said in her key-note address that on the committee level, being uninformed, leads to unrealistic expectation, leading to mistrust, conspiracy and finally violent conflict.
"Hence, we will engage on the basis of trusting, partnership with local communities affected by the oil explorations," Mary Beth Sanate stated.
She also said that CENRs will work on four thematic areas; indigenous people's rights environment, social economic/livelihoods and gender.
The CENRs convenor then said, "Along this line, the CENRs in close alliances with the local communities and other relevant stake-holders will initiate activities like awareness, raising capacity building, creating common understanding and one voice of the local communities in the context of all oil explorations in Manipur" .
Also speaking on the occasion as panelist, Pamei Tingenlung alias John Pamei, president of All Zeliangrong Students Union (AZSU) compared the cases of Manipur and Nagaland with regards to oil exploration.
He said in Nagaland, affected people or land owners are well consulted before the work began but that was not the case in Manipur.