Imphal: United Committee on Protection of Natural Resources, Tipaimukh has demanded that the Manipur Government and Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Limited withdraw all efforts of exploration in the area.
All the MoUs signed on the issue should be declared as null, invalid and void and the government should immediately put a moratorium on the on-going exploratory projects, said committee president Darlienthang.
He said the Hmar Inpui (Hmar Supreme House) and the Village Authority Association of Tipaimukh Sub Division, Churachandpur District are concerned with the manner in which oil and gas exploration has been pursued in Hmar areas.
They are not provided with free, prior information and therefore the on-going exploration did not bear the consent and knowledge of the Hmar people, the committee stated.
It added the total area granted for oil exploration is 3850 SqKm which is almost one sixth of the total geographical area of Manipur.
The drilling sites will be located in the following Hmar villages: Parbung, Parvachawm, Sipuikawn, Tipaimukh, Taithu, Lungthulien, Damdiei, Tinsuong, Sartuinek, Patpuihmun, Kangreng and Lower Kharkhuplien.
Comparatively, the Hmar dominated areas will be most impacted by the project, the United Committee on Protection of Natural Resources, Tipaimikh added.
‘Under the Eight Round of New Exploration Licencing Policy (NELP-VIII) the Government of India had signed one production sharing contract on 19th July, 2010 at New Delhi for on-land oil block in Manipur code-named ‘AA-ONN-2009/I’ with the Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Limited.
The oil and gas tycoons have also secured the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with the Government of India and a Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) with the Government of Manipur on July, 2010 and November, 2010 respectively,’ the Committee said. (UNI)
