ZB says no to extraction
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, September 07 2017:
Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur (ZB-M) has alleged that the Government of Manipur is trying to extract minerals from 'Zeliangrong areas' and asserted that the State Government's attempt to do so will be thwarted with 'all out opposition.'
On the reported decision of the State Government to extract minerals/oil from the districts of Tamenglong and Noney the Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipr (ZB-M) said it is very much concerned with the development .
The ZB-M asserted that the Zeliangrong people will "oppose tooth and nail" the attempts by the Government of Manipur to extract minerals/oil from 'Zeliangrong areas' .
"Beneath or above no one will be allowed to extract minerals from Zeliangrong areas," said the ZB-M.It also said that "if the State Government goes ahead with its decision then we will spare nothing while opposing the measures taken up by the Government."
In the month of May this year two community consultations on "Protection of Land, Forest and Rivers" were held at Sibilong village and Phaitol village (Tamenglong district), which were jointly organized by the Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Manipur, Sibilong Village Authority, Phaitol Village Authority, Committee on the Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur and Peace Core Team, Manipur .
The community consultations were organized to promote community rights and defence of their land, forest and rivers against aggressive push for extractive industries and large infrastructure projects in Tamenglong district and other parts of Manipur .
According to the organisers of the consultations, the participants of the programes “resolved to defend their land and resources from any exploitation and plunder by oil companies such as the Asian Oilfield, Oil India Limited, Jubilant Energy, Alphageo etc”.The participants also “resolved to endorse the positions of previous public consultations on oil exploration to reject any form of surveys and direct oil exploration and drilling from Manipur by the oil companies”, according to the organisers.