AZSU urges for withdrawal of Petroleum Exploration license
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 14, 2012: Stating that the efforts to explore and drill oil in Manipur involve a process of disrespect and non application of human rights based approach to develop-ment, the All Zeliangrong Students' Union (AMN) has urged the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India to "withdraw" the PEL licenses granted to Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Limited (JOGPL), based in the Netherlands which has been awarded the contract works for the exploration and drilling in two oil blocks in Manipur located in the Jiribam (Imphal East district), Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts of Manipur.

The students' body has also demanded that public hearings called by the Manipur Pollution Control Board regarding drilling and exploration of oil be suspended.

In a lengthy press statement, AZSU said that till the rights of communities over their land and resources are recognized and their self determined developmental rights are recognized, JOGPL and the Government of India should stop all petroleum and drilling related activities in Manipur while cautioning that the Government of India should take full responsibility for any eventualities emerging out of the insensitivity towards the voice, wishes, aspirations and demands of the Zeliangrong people.

Stating that public hearings had already proven a sham exercises which disrespect indigenous peoples, minority communities' voices, the statement pointed out that the Manipur Pollution Control Board wrongly reported the affirmative endorsement of the project and the Ministry of Environment and Forest cleared Environment Clearance in 2008 despite peoples objections to construction of Tipaimukh dam in all the five previous public hearings held in Mizoram, Tamenglong and at Tipaimukh from 2006 till 2008. It said the Public hearing notice is untimely and constitute a disrespect of peoples right for consultation and free prior and informed consent as this public hearing is called only after relevant surveys and necessary work has already been commenced for oil exploration in Manipur.

Two different public hearings are to take place on the same day (one is at 11:00 am followed by 02:00 pm) on August 17 at Jiribam and Nungba respectively which gave no chance for the public to express their voices.

The statement further expressed concern of militarisation in the region and recent military operation in Tameng-long district by state cabinet decision which meant to use security forces during public hearing.

It added that CrPC 144 was promulgated during public hearing at Tamenglong in 2006 regarding construction of Tipaimukh dam.

It also syayed that the public hearing notice is fixed during rainy season where the turn-up is expected to be low.

Asserting that the proposed public hearings will be based on incomplete studies and misleading facts and figures prepared by SENES consultant groups, AZSU noted that Several facts and figures of Manipur, especially on the biodiversity, flora and fauna etc are misrepresented and undermined.

It also bypasses concern villages consent and approval.

The AZSU also expressed concerned over the serious lack of transparency regarding the oil exploration process stating that no details on the quantum of oil discovered in Manipur or results of studies have been revealed so far to the people of the state.

The indigenous minorities' peoples of Manipur are not informed officially till now/date that oil is found in Manipur and that contract has been offered to foreign companies for exploration.

The Draft EAI and executive summary did not include indigenous language like Zeme, Liangmei, Kuki, etc which is mandatory in the public hearing process, the statement said adding that petroleum exploration in Manipur is an international issue which needs immediate attention to control climate change.

This project will destroy the biodiversity hot spot zone, it will affect the aquatic habitat of India and her neighbouring countries; permanent damage of green zone of India, endanger species, relocation of animal habitat and their environment, disturb migratory birds and animal in the region.

It will disturb the rail heads crossing the region, Tipaimukh dam, etc.

Further the students' body expressed concern that innocent villagers of Tamenglong District, who had no technical knowledge of impacts of oil drilling, are duped to sign agreement for surveys by Alphageo Company without informing them properly the intent, purpose and objectives and also impacts of the surveys to be undertaken.

This is a clear violation of the right to free, prior and informed consent of communities under International Law, such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, 2007, where every details and information of the project needs to be provided to the communities before any decision on survey and studies are conducted.

The consequences of oil drilling on the indigenous peoples land in Manipur could jeopardize the survival of all communities who rely on their land for their food, resources and other basic needs as oil exploration and drilling has huge potential to cause environmental impacts on the flora and fauna of Manipur because of the gas flaring, contamination of water, destruction of forest, oil spills, etc.

The Indian laws on Oil exploration, including the Oil Fields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, The Oil Industry (Development) Act, 1974; and Petroleum & Natural Gas Rules, 1959, Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 are outdated and represent a disregard of the international human rights and development rights advances, such as the ILO 169 and UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UND-RIP), which recognized the indigenous peoples' ownership rights of all resources in their land and territories and to use it according to their wishes, aspirations and needs, it contended.

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