'No oil exploration sans consent of people'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 21 2017:
Four youth organisations have made it clear that oil exploration in the State cannot be continued unless the authority concerned takes prior consent of the people and furnishes documents of the much required Environment Impact Assessment and Social Impact Assessment.
The four organisations are Youth's Forum for Protection of Human Rights, Human Rights Forum Manipur, Social and Youth Progressive Organisation and Khangabok Development and Students' Union.
Speaking to media persons at Konung Mamang today, secretary of Human Rights Forum Manipur, Kh Dillipkumar contended that the oil exploration carried out at Khaidem in Imphal West district by a private company was done without seeking prior consent of the people and acquiring documents of Environment Impact Assessment and Social Impact Assessment.
He said that the organisations rebuffed the manner in which private company Asian Oil Fields was awarded the contract by Oil India Limited under Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for oil exploration carried out at Khaidem.
Moreover using explosive devices in paddy fields for exploring oil will damage crops and spread polluted particles in the village, he pointed out.
He also said that the Central Government ought to inform the people before taking up any developmental project.
Dillipkumar cited Loktak Project, Khuga Dam and Singda Dam as some of the bleak projects taken up in the name of development of the State.
He then cautioned that the four organisations along with other civil society organisations will launch severe form of agitation if oil exploration in the State is not ceased immediately.