Jiri meet opposes public hearing on oil exploration
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Jiri, July 29 2012: A public meeting held today at Jiribam Ima Meira Paibi Apunba Lup (JIMPAL) office resolved to protest the proposed Public hearing on Petroleum Exploration in Manipur which is scheduled to be conducted tomorrow at Jiribam Town Hall by Manipur Pollution Control Board.

The public meeting organized under the aegis of Committee on Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur demanded to stop all survey works by Alpha Geo Company to explore petroleum products in Manipur.

It also demanded revocation of the agreement signed between India government and the Jubiliant Oil and Gas Pvt Ltd in this regard.

Speaking in the meeting, Co-Convener of the Committee, Jiten Yumnam slammed the India government and the state government for organising public hearing after all necessary agreements to explore petroleum products from the state have been signed two years earlier between the Centre and a Thailand based company.

Normally, public hearing is conducted before any proceedings are made into the matter to take into consideration of the opinions and plights of the people of the area affected by the projects.

However, in Manipur, the government is playing a cheap game with the people by organising public hearing just for namesake after all proceedings and agreements have been completed.

Convener John Panmei said that the survey to find crude oils and petroleum products in the state were conducted under false cover in the name of some other projects which would supposedly benefit the people of the state.

However, their cover was blown away when people of the area became aware of the fact.

When people reacted against the survey, the company began to play divide and rule policy among the groups of people residing in the affected area either by using army or by giving false promises of benefits to illiterate village chiefs.

In such situation, people of all communities should stand united against the exploration of petroleum products from the state which will leave nothing for the people of the state.

It will only benefit the companies, not the people of the state, he said.

Convener, Nambithing Paomei pointed out that among panel members for public hearing scheduled tomorrow; there is not a single representative from the public.

The hearing is just for namesake and it does not have any room for public opinions and plights.

So, people of the state should oppose the hearing as well as exploration of petroleum products from the state.

President of Hmar Inpui, Amo said that there is no reason for the people of the state to live if they could not get any benefits from the products of the state.

It is very unfortunate for the government to take up such actions against the welfare of the people.

Convener of COHR, Phunindro Konsam said that it is not a matter of standing against development but to protect the rights of the indigenous people and their properties.

The proposed oil exploration will not bring any benefits to the people of the state.

Instead, the project will oust all the indigenous people from the project site and the area will become the property of the company.

The people of the state will lose its land to the oil explorers, he added.

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