Wokha’s Longtsiri villagers allege cross- border illegal oil exploration; nine held

April 27, 2023 21 Views No Comment

Workers reportedly came from Assam

Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 27

Several workers who allegedly crossed over from Assam were apprehended near the Disputed Area Belts (DABs) apprehended in Longstiri village under Bhandari sub-division of Wokha district on the evening of April 25.

The incident reportedly occurred around 4:30-5PM when villagers of Longtsiri saw some men setting up equipments, makeshift tents and machineries on a private paddy field seemingly for oil exploration. They were immediately stopped from carrying out their ‘illegal activities’ and later reported to the police.

According to the Assistant Sub-Inspector, M Achamo Lotha of Champang PS, who was present on the spot, nine individuals were arrested from the spot along with their equipments and a transport truck.

The villagers claimed that the workers were engaged by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), a public sector undertaking and leading gas explorer and producer in the country. This could not be independently confirmed by The Morung Express.

“We received the information at around 6-6:30PM from the Head GB of Longtsiri. Upon arrival we found out that they had started constructing a makeshift camp without taking any permission from our side,” he stated.

He also mentioned that none of the workers could produce any legal document or license about their alleged work.

As such, investigations are underway and the concerned authorities have been notified including the border magistrate.

“This is not the first time that they have tried to illegally undertake oil exploration in the area,” the ASI added.

The incident comes days after the chief ministers of the two states, Neiphiu Rio and Himanta Biswa Sarma met on April 20 to agree ‘in principle’ to go ahead with oil exploration in areas along their disputed boundary ‘for the economic benefit of both Nagaland and Assam,’ among others.

Rio had also mentioned that they have decided to go for a MoU so that oil can be extracted and royalties can be shared between the neighbouring states.

Meanwhile, the Working Committee (WC), Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) has demanded the Chief Minister Rio to withdraw from any MoU with Assam over the disturbed, unresolved boundary areas and from any attempt for exploration of mineral resources are they are “guarded by historical and political Naga sanctity; therefore, immoral and unacceptable to stakeholders.”

Mhonthung Kithan, Head GB of Longtsiri, meanwhile, told this newspaper that the village had been officially recognised by the state government on December 6, 2006 and has a total of 140 households. It is located near to the Champang oilfield which has been left abandoned for almost three decades.

Regarding the incident at his village, he shared that several individuals claiming to be from ONGC, had previously visited the area to survey for oil exploration.

However as they did not possess any documents to prove their identity nor permission from the Nagaland state government the village council prevented them from doing so, Kithan said.

“They later brought all their machineries and equipment to start drilling for oil without even taking permission from us,” he added.
As such the villagers took matters into their hands and halted all their activities, later informing the police.

As Longtsiri village does not fall under the DAB, this was a blatant violation made by the Assam government to explore oil in Nagaland’s territory, he maintained.