Request to halt the oil exploration work in Manipur
Date : 02 May 2018,

To,
Shri N Biswajit Singh
Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industries
Government of Manipur

Subject: Request to halt the oil exploration work in Manipur.

Dear Sir,

Youth’s Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) is writing to inform you with deep concern with regard to the ongoing 2 D Seismic Data Collection or Oil exploration in Jiribam, Manipur and Manipur in general.

Since the Asian Oilfield Service Ltd (AOSL) started its survey in Khaidem Loukol in May 2017, along with various civil societies we have been requesting the government to stop all form of oil exploration work in Manipur, however, it is very unfortunate to learned that the exploration work has been started in Uchathol, Jiribam as informed by our volunteers.

We further could learned that the company carrying out the 2D seismic survey have failed to seek a mandatory Free Prior and Informed Consent of the people inhabited in and around the area like how it had happened in Khaidem Loukol, also have failed to conduct Social Impact Assessment, Human Rights Impact Assessment, Environment Impact Assessment, Cumulative Impact Assessment, also have failed to follow the Guidelines of Asian Development Bank and Guidelines of World Bank which is mandatory for all the Government including Government of Manipur and India before the survey license was provided to any oil companies or other companies implementing any developmental projects.

Failure in complying with the Global standard of procedures, the Mandate of United Nations Working Groups on Business and Human Rights, mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Rights of the Indigenous People and UN Declaration on Rights of the Indigenous People may lead to violation of International obligations and the liability will fall upon the government of Manipur and India for the violation of the same.

We have been experiencing the false promises made to provide employment in the early 80’s since the developmental projects like Loktak Hydro Power Project, Mapithel Dam, Khuga Dam, Railway Line etc are implemented, till date not a single youth of the state of that time and effected people of the area are provided a single job, instead the people are displaced and are involved in many anti social activities which the government cannot control.

We the youth of the state have been hearing that the companies will provide job to the unemployed youth of the state then what kind of job? How many oil experts have been produced from Manipur? Has the government trained the youths of the state in the field of Oil Exploration 15 years earlier before the oil extraction or exploration started? Why not the oil engineers from our state?

What had happened to the promises made to the youth of Khuga Dam, Mapithel Dam, Loktak Project, Railway Line, etc? Why again without the long term plan? Why militarization? Why without the people consent? are the few questions which need a proper justification or answers.

We learned that the Government of Manipur is satisfied with the 10% royalty from the oil exploration or extraction of crude oil by perceiving that it will improve the economy of the state, by receiving Rs. 100/- per 1000 Kg and Rs. 1000/- per 1,00,000 kg as prescribed under the THE OILFIELDS (REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT) ACT, 1948 which is equal to Rs 0.1/- per 1 KG then why not preserve the agricultural land and produce huge amount of Rice which cost Rs. 35/- per 1 Kg which is costlier than the crude oil which the state of Manipur is encouraging to extract in the name of better economy of the state.

Our state is running lost after lost, we the youth of the state will not let it happen as the future lie on us and protecting our land and environment is our primary task as being a child of Motherland Manipur.

We also cannot deny the fact of the existing negative impact of extraction of crude oil in Madhab, West Tripura and Garbhadhi, Shipaijalla, Tripura which resulted in polluting the Gomati River due to oil spill from the oil pipe line and the impact of gas flaring and extraction of natural gas which resulted in Lung Cancer and other respiratory diseases, also in Wakha District Nagaland polluting the water body and the land which resulted in skin infection and other health issues, also the pollution of Lukha River and respiratory diseases due to illegal and legal coal mining and limestone mining in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya and also the negative impact on the agricultural land, crops and other flora and fauna in the Upper Assam due to extraction of crude oil.

We believe that your good office will definitely keep in mind of the unwanted outcome learning from the neighboring states which will definitely arise in Manipur if the extraction of crude oil takes place.

Further, we would like to lay down few area of urgent attention:

1. To stop the oil exploration work in Manipur in the best interest of the public and not to continue in the best interest of the profit making Companies.

2. To conduct Social Impact Assessment, Human Rights Impact Assessment, Environment Impact Assessment and Cumulative Impact Assessment.

3. To follow the Guidelines of the Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

4. To follow and respect the mandate of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, UN Special Rapporteur on Rights of the Indigenous People and United Nations Declaration on Rights of the Indigenous People.

5. To seek free prior and informed consent of the local people and the people of Manipur.

YFPHR, therefore, request your good self to kindly consider the aforementioned points in the best interest of the people and future of Manipur from falling on the hand of profit making companies.

Your kind concern and cooperation will be highly appreciated.

(KH Phajaton)
President