Tribal bodies urged to respond on oil, gas draft modalities

The sub-committee was constituted two years ago by the government under chairmanship of planning minister T R Zeliang to finalise fresh modalities for exploration and production of oil and other mineral resources and revenue sharing formula after holding consultations with all the stake holders, including the land owners.

The panel circulated the draft modalities among the tribal organisations seeking their views and opinions.

In Nagaland, the land does not belong to the government but the tribal communities and they are sole owners of land and its resources.

In a circular today, the sub-committee reminded all the tribal organisations and hohos (councils), which had a meeting on the draft modalities on July 13 that the panel had earlier requested them to submit their comments by July 31.

The fresh circular asked the tribal bodies to submit their views and opinions to the member secretary of the sub-committee and agriculture production commissioner (APC), H K Khulu by August 16.

Although oil production by ONGC discontinued in Nagaland from 1994 following disruptions from certain quarters, the state government was keen to resume exploration activities in the state with fresh modalities to safeguard the interest of the state as well as the land owners.