Amend P&NG Rules 2012: LH

Lotha Hoho has appealed to the state government for amendment of Nagaland Petroleum & Natural Gas (P&NG) Rules & Regulation 2012, saying the present statute not only infringed but also distorted the Naga customary ownership of land and resources rights as guaranteed in the Article 371A of the Constitution.
In a representation to the state chief secretary, the hoho chairman Mhao Humtsoe and general secretary Mhondamo Ovung said contrary to custom and constitutional provision the contention of the state government claiming to be equal landowner with the people in the said regulation was illogical.
While pointing out that ‘royalty’ determined ownership of land and resources, the hoho said the state government has deliberately avoided it in its P&NG Rules and substituted it with ‘revenue sharing’. However, the hoho said revenue was primarily government’s income/receipt.
Also, on government’s affirmation that they had made these rules and regulation based on the Article 371A and respecting the ownership rights of the people, the hoho, however, said it was found to be deviating from it all along.
For which, the hoho said the Lothas have been voicing their deep concern on the matter in various platforms but their appeals were not given due attention.
Rather than listening to their suggestions, the hoho said the government was bent on executing the petroleum exploitation at Changpang and Tssori villages even enabling “tainted/controversial company” Metropolitan Oil &Gas Private Limited (MOGPL) go ahead with its work.
Referring to Nagaland government Act passed in 1990 that recognized the Nagas’ ownership of land, both over and below the land, the Hoho said in 1995 an amendment to the Act was proposed but the President of India was yet to give his ascent.
Hoho said the present government instead of looking into the gambit of the 1990 Act decided to pass an Assembly resolution in 2010 and based on it came out with a P&NG Rules and regulation 2012.
In the light of the above, the hoho demanded suspension of all activities related to oil activities before amending the P&NG rules and regulation 2012.
Meanwhile, the hoho said they have no other option but to go to the court for seeking justice for redressal of their legitimate demands to restore “our dignity of rightful owners of land and resources.”