Kohima: Nagaland Minister for Planning and Geology and Mining, TR Zeliang along with Minister of Forests and Border Affairs Y Patton called on the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Veerappa Moily in New Delhi.
Both the Ministers on Tuesday handed over a letter from the Chief Minister of Nagaland clarifying the state’s position in the whole matter, relating to the resolution of the Nagaland State Legislative Assembly with regard to Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2012, a statement issued by Deputy Residential Commissioner (DRC) New Delhi John B Chawang received here on Wednesday said.
The Union Minister had a detailed hearing from the visiting state ministers on the sequence of events from 1963 onwards that led to three suspensions and finally the constitution of the Cabinet Sub Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, the sources said.
Minister Zeliang also conveyed to the Union Minister that the Nagaland Government has no intentions to antagonize the Centre, but intends to go by the Constitutional provisions of the Article 371(A).
“The state of Nagaland will play its role within the state while Centre should play its role once the oil and natural gas are produced and ready to be exported outside the state,” Zeliang maintained.
The Geology and Mining Minister drew the attention of Moily on how the state was created out of an agreement, referring to the 16-Point Agreement that was enshrined in the Constitution as Article 371A.
After the briefing, the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas assured the state that the Centre or the state will abide by the Constitution and if there is any misunderstanding will be sorted out soon.
The DRC New Delhi also stated that the Union Minister for Petroleum will soon be holding a joint meeting of the Minister of Home Affairs and Law Justice to sort out the matter. (PTI)