Anti-dam, anti-oil exploration ante up
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 16 2012:
A public rally and a one-day convention held on March 14 at Nungba Bazar has endorsed the anti-Tipaimukh Dam and anti-petroleum exploration stances that were taken earlier at several public meetings and rallies.
The public rally and convention at Nungba in Tamenglong district was jointly organised by Zeliangrong Indigenous Peoples Forum Manipur, ZSUM, CCDD, ACTIP, COLNER, INTACH, SIPHRO, ZU, AZSU.
The rally covered places around Nungba and it converged at Nungba Bazar where a public convention was held.
To preserve forest land for posterity, to revoke the MoU signed among the Government of Manipur, NEEPCO, and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited for the construction of Tipaimukh dam, to immediately call off the environment clearance sanctioned by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, to oppose the contract given to a Noida based Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Limited firm by the Ministry of Petroleum for oil exploration in Manipur were the resolutions adopted during the public convention.
Placards reading 'No to Tipaimukh Dam and Petroleum exploration,' 'Land, water, forest is our life,' 'Stop petroleum exploration in Manipur, 'Go back Jubilant gas company,' 'Go back NEEPCO,' 'Stop militarisation in our area,' 'honour indigenous rights,' 'peace loving people demand no to oil exploration,' were displayed by the rallyists.
The convention was also, among others, attended by rights activist and journalist Yambem Laba, social activist Aram Panmei, president of ZSUM Jacob, secretary of All Loktak Lake Fishermen Union O Rajen, Director of CORE Bobby Roy and other distinguished dignitaries from civil society organisations.
Speakers at the occasion strongly advocated that the construction of Tipaimukh Dam and exploration of petroleum would do more harm than do good to the people.
The public convention also decided to send a copy of the resolutions adopted at the convention to Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh.
It may be mentioned that Noida based Jubilant Oil and Gas Pvt Limited was recently awarded the two Manipur blocks as operator with a 100 percent participating interest under New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP)VIII licensing round.
The Manipur Blocks are located within the eastern extension of the fold-thrust belt of the petroliferous Burma-Assam-Arakan basin.
The petroleum system in Manipur is said to be an extension of the proven petroleum systems of Bangladesh and Tripura-Cachar areas.
The Manipur Blocks are reported to have provided a promising opportunity to explorers as the area is virtually unexplored.