Imphal, Aug 14 The All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) 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.
According to the Zeliangrong students’ body, the contracts were awarded to the Netherlands based company under the eighth round of New Exploration Licensing Policy Eight round (NELP-VIII). The Government of India had signed the “Production Sharing Contract” (PSC) on July 19, 2010 in New Delhi with JOGPL for onland oil block in Manipur, codenamed (AA-ONN-2009/1) & (AA-ONN-2009/2), said the AZSU.
Regarding the public hearings notified by the Manipur Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in connection with the petroleum explorations in Manipur scheduled at Jiribam, Parbung and Nungba towns on July 30 and also on August 8 and 17 respectively, the AZSU said such public hearings are nothing but futile exercises which disrespect the indigenous people and minority community voices. Driving home its point, the Zeliangrong students’ body said the public hearings were heard in various places of Mizoram and Manipur from the year 2006 to 2008 in connection with the construction of the controversial Tipaimukh Dam. After the hearings were done with the people objecting to the dam construction, the Manipur Pollution Control Board had reported to the concerned authorities that the people endorsed the project and as a result the Ministry of Environment and Forest had cleared the Environment Clearance hurdle in the year 2008. The AZSU also termed the public hearings as mockery procedures as survey works and other necessary tasks for the exploration of the oil have already been completed. The Zeliangrong students’ body also expressed resentment on the often use of military forces during the public hearings by promulgating the CrPC 144 as was witnessed in the public hearings on Tipaimukh Dam construction in 2006.
The AZSU then expressed it apprehension with regard to the proposed public hearings saying that they will be based on incomplete studies and misleading facts and figures prepared by SENES consultant groups.
“Several facts and figures of Manipur, especially on the biodiversity, flora and fauna etc., are misrepresented and undermined.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/zeliangrong-students-oppose-oil-exploration/