Nagaland oil exploration row: Govt to hold consultative meet with all stakeholders, says Dy CM Y Patton

Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister said that the MoU has not been signed yet and the Chief Ministers of Nagaland and Assam have only agreed in principle

Amid stiff opposition from different sectors including the Working Committee of the 7 NNPGs and NSCN-IM to the proposed oil exploration agreed to by Assam and Nagaland, Nagaland government today said that it would hold consultative meetings with all the stakeholders in the oil-bearing areas.
NSCN-IM, the Working Committee of the 7 NNPGs, the Nagaland Tribe Council (NTC) have opposed the proposal as the oil-producing areas where the exploration will take place falls along the Disputed Area Belt (DAB), meaning the border areas of Assam and Nagaland which are disputed.

Addressing the media, Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister said that the MoU has not been signed yet and the Chief Ministers of Nagaland and Assam have only agreed in principle.

Patton added that a consultative meeting will be convened with all stakeholders in oil-bearing areas, including Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Wokha, Nuiland, and Dimapur, as well as with all the tribal bodies and civil society organizations, before coming to any conclusion on the matter.
“Unless we have a thorough discussion with the civil societies, that will not be carried out,” said Y. Patton.
As per sources, the Centre has called the Chief Ministers of the two states to discuss this matter in the next few days in New Delhi.
The tentative date for the consultative meeting has been scheduled for May 9. However, it is likely to be postponed if Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio leaves for Delhi for the meeting with the Centre.
It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on April 20 agreed in principle to go ahead with oil exploration in areas along their disputed boundary for the economic benefit of both states.
Rio confirmed that the two states have in principle decided to go for an MoU on oil exploration in the disputed areas so that oil can be extracted and royalties can be shared between the neighbouring states.

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