Nagaland state government held a consultative meeting today at State Banquet Hall, Kohima with all the Tribal bodies and civil society organisations to deliberate on matters pertaining to oil and gas exploration and production, urban local bodies (ULB), Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) and the Nagaland Village and Tribal Councils Act, 1978.
Later, Minister in-charge of Power and Parliamentary Affairs, K.G Kenye and Advisor Information and Public Relations and S&WC, Imkong L Imchen accompanied by Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Abhijit Sinha, IAS, briefed media persons after the meeting at the Secretariat Conference Hall.
Kenye said that during the meeting, the State government presented extensively from the backgrounds of the oil exploration in the state since the early 70’s up to the last attack by ONGC in Wokha district. The department of geology mining also presented a power point presentation which has given the correct picture of the mineral wells especially in the oil and the natural gas sector, he said.
Clarifying that no MoU has been signed with regard to oil exploration, Kenye maintained that the Chief Ministers of Nagaland and Assam has reached a certain level of understanding and because the centre was insisting that the two states should settle the border dispute outside of the court, as it was done in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh case, he said Nagaland Chief Minister was also persuaded to reach to an understanding with Assam.
The process of consultation is going on, said Kenye adding that the stand of the government is to try to reach unanimity and consensus.
On query to the opposition from NSCN-IM and 7 NNPGs, Kenye informed that formation of a Political Affairs committee (PAC) is being mooted and the new PAC will take up this issue with the concern people.
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On the issue of ULB, Kenye said Tribal bodies and CSOs have highly appreciated the move of the government to repeal the NMA Act 2001 and they have urged the government to constitute a panel at the earliest and frame the new rules accordingly.
With regard to Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), Kenye said that 1 December 1963 will be the cutoff date however, it will have categories and provisions for concessions for people who were settled on Nagaland prior to statehood for better understanding.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio during the consultative meeting on 9 May 2023
Earlier in the consultative meeting, Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio delivered the keynote address and the concluding remarks while the opening remarks were delivered by Deputy Chief Minister & Minister-in-charge for Home & Border Affairs, Y. Patton and Deputy Chief Minister & Minister-in-charge, Planning & Transformation, T. R. Zeliang.
During the meeting, Advocate General of Nagaland, K. N. Balgopal briefed the gathering on urban local bodies (ULBs) and Principal Secretary, Home, Abhijit Sinha briefed on Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), followed by a briefing on Nagaland Village and Tribal Councils Act, 1978, while Commissioner & Secretary, Geology & Mining, K. Libanthung Lotha briefed on Oil and Gas Exploration and Production. Various representatives from the Tribal Hohos and CSOs also shared their views and opinions pertaining to the agenda.
A section of the participants of the consultative meeting held on 9 May 2023
Read more: Oil exploration: Nagaland Govt to hold consultative meeting with stakeholders
