Tamenglong against oil exploration
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 07 2012: Amidst heavy security arrangements and strong people's opposition, the environmental public hearing on Exploratory Oil Drilling and Allied Activities in Manipur was held today at Mini Stadium here today.

The public hearing organised by Manipur Pollution Control Board (MPCB) was held in two sessions for AA-ONN 2009/1 and AA-ONN 2009/2(code names of the Production Sharing Contract signed between GoI and JOGPL) respectively conducted at the venue amid heavy security deployment.

Besides district police, police commandos and personnel of MR/IRB from Imphal were deployed as additional security cover.

Meanwhile, a protest rally against oil exploration in Manipur and public hearing was staged at the district headquarters and a public meeting was also held against the said public hearing.

All shops and business establishments remained close for the day to protest the public hearing.

The rally which began from public ground ended at Jadonang Park where a brief public meeting against oil exploration was held.

The protestors numbering around 500 shouted slogans like 'Stop Oil Exploration in Manipur', 'Go back Jubilant Energy', 'Withdraw PSC contracts and PEL licenses awarded to Jubilant Energy' .

DC of Tamenglong, C Arthur W presided over as chairman of the panel members.

Environmental Engineer of MPCB T Mangi, Asset Manager Manipur of Jubilant Oil and Gas Pvt Ltd (JOGPL) Tejinder Singh were the members of the panel and Member Secretary of MPCB, K Jagadishore was the Convenor of the panel.

In the first session, (AA-ONN 2009/1) Ajay Bisen on behalf of Jubilant Oil and Gas Pvt.

Ltd., NOIDA, made a powerpoint presentation in English about the salient features of the proposed project.

This presentation was also explained in local dialect Rongmei by Joseph Pauline, Addl DC, Tamenglong.

Just after the presentation representatives of various civil organizations expressed their strong opposition to the oil exploratory and drilling activities reasoning that the natural resources belonged to the indigenous people.

They raised questions and views like why jubilant energy is so interested in working in Manipur despite people's repeated objection to oil exploration and why Govt and Jubilant did not consult the local people as required by the UN resolution on Indigenous Peoples and protection of their natural resources.

Companies should sign MoU with each village before oil exploration and the company and state government has made contract to share revenue but without any mentioning of the share of the local people.

The representatives of the Jubilant Energy and Panel members did not provide adequate and clear responses to the queries and views expressed by the local participants.

Altogether fifty representations against Oil exploration in Manipur were submitted by various village authorities, community organizations and other civil bodies to the Panel members.

To a querry on the ownership rights of land and its sub surface resources and the non relevance of the production sharing contract raised by one of the local participant, the chairman of the panel member said the issue will be discussed by the district administration with the state Government.

Another querry seeking NOC for seismic surveys by some of the village authorities is being revoked, the company representative said that the same has been received today and the company will honor that.

During the hearing, president of the All Zeliangrong Students Union, Assam Manipur Nagaland, Pamei Tingenlung proposed that whoever opposed the oil exploration from among the local participants to rise and raise their objections.

In response, the entire participants excluding the panel members and security forces all rose and voiced their strong opposition against the said project.

The participants also displayed banners with slogans "NO TO OIL EXPLORATION IN MANIPUR" inside the public hearing hall.

In the sideline of today's public hearing, president of All Tribal Students Union Manipur, Muan Tom Bing said that the land belongs to tribals and without the consent of the rightful owners of the land, the oil company and the government should stop all oil exploration and drilling activities in Manipur.

He also said that all the tribals of Manipur at any cost irrespective of areas will stand against the said project.

It may be recalled that indigenous communities of Jiribam, Churachandpur and Tamenglong strongly protested the public hearings for oil exploration organized by the MPCB at Jiribam, Parbung and Nungba on 31 July, 8 and 17 August 2012 respectively.

The Public Hearing for Nungba was forced to cancel to due to stiff community objections and protest.

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