Lotha Hoho (LH) has issued a clarification on the appeal made by Nagaland GB Federation (NGBF) urging the Hoho to lift the public interest litigation (PIL) filed with regard to oil exploration activities in the state.
In a press release, LH chairman, Mhao Humtsoe and general secretary, Er. Mhondamo Ovung reminded NGBF that PIL was filed to sustain the provisions of Article 371 A, since Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas (NP&NG) Regulations and Rules 2012, were against the rights of the land owners. LH pointed out that it was not the “assigned responsibility” of the GBs on the matters related to settlement of issues on exploration, extraction and development of Petroleum and Natural Gas in the state. Instead, LH asked NGBF to coordinate in the management of khel (colony) within the village, as they have been vested with the responsibility. The Hoho also alleged that GBs were “helpless” when it comes to matters that included national or international parties, and was also in the case of Petroleum and Natural Gas (PNG) since it involved ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Govt of India, the Oil & Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) of India, Metropolitan Oil & Gas Pvt Ltd (MoGPL), department of Geology & Mining, Government of Nagaland, etc.
Therefore, LH asked NGBF not to misguide the Nagas by stating that PIL will have a negative consequence for the Nagas. In fact, LH claimed that PIL has paved way for the Nagas to express their rights and to safeguard our traditional rights, as enshrined in the Article 371 A, of the Indian Constitution.
LH has highlighted some “glaring” reason on the filing of PIL No. 4 (K) of 2015.
LH claimed that PIL was filed for sustaining the provisions of Article 371 A, as NP& NG Regulations and Rules 2012, were against the rights of the land owners.
It also accused state government of violating its own existing Act of 1990 by passing the NLA Resolution of 26/7/2010. In this regard, LH asked the state government why it had violated Article 371A by imposing CrPC 144, and launched MOGPL at Tssori- Champang Oil fields, on July 21, 2014?
LH maintained that while other organizations including Ao Senden were not willing to accept the NP & NG modalities, why Lothas were compelled to accept. The Hoho further made it clear that it was not against exploration, extraction or development of Petroleum and Natural Gas; but was only against some Articles of the Nagaland state NP & NG Regulations & Rules 2012, which are contrary to the provisions of Article 371A.
LH claimed that by filing the PIL, the court in its ruling (9.10. 2015) had made Government of India as a Respondent, thereby prevented Government of India from auctioning two oil blocks in Nagaland. Therefore, LH said that the Lotha community did not jumped only at the last moment to file the PIL; but starting from 2008, they had submitted many memorandums and appeals to the state government; but were not attended or responded by the state govt.
LH said six memorandums and appeals have also been submitted to the state government from various Lothas’ bodies- Lotha Legislators (2008), Champang Land Owners Union (2009), Lotha Hoho (then Kyong Hoho) on two occasions in 2012, Lotha Students’ Union (then Kyong Students’ Union) on 2014 and Lotha Hoho, Wokha (2015), and was awaiting response from the state government.
In the latest memorandum that was submitted in 2015, the Hoho had cautioned that “in the event of the state govt’s failure to respond favourably, the matter will be taken to the court of law”. However, the state government never bothered to either discuss or respond to the memorandum and for which this PIL (No. 4 (K) 2015) was filed, LH said.
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