IT News
Imphal, May 11 : The ongoing oil exploration being underway at various part of the state faces objection from various organisations in the state. Several environment activists while opposing the oil exploration had submitted memorandums to the Commerce and Industries Minister of the government of India urging him for immediate intervention as the consequences could be a disaster for the state. One more organisation based at Thoubal district called the ‘Youths Action Committee for Protection of Indigenous People ‘ (Y ACPIP) also submitted memorandum to the Commerce and Industries Minister Th. Bishwajit for immediate intervention of the oil exploration work. The organisation alleged that the Oil India Limited started the 2D seismic data collection in Manipur without obtaining the Environment Clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. This is being alleged as per the information from the said Ministry’ s Regional office at Shillong. Obtaining of the Environment Clearance the ultimate responsibility is the Government of Manipur , the organisation said while adding that the liability for failure in obtaining the Environment Clearance will fall upon the Government of Manipur . The memorandum submitted to the Minister also stressed on the need for seeking free Prior and Informed Consent of the Indigenous People as it is mandatory to implement any developmental projects as Indigenous people are dominantly inhabited in the state of Manipur . However , this was not taken in any developmental projects in Manipur which results in the violation of Rights of the Indigenous People as per the United Nation Rights of the Indigenous People, 2007. The organisation also stated that as per their source around 20 to 25 mine Bombs have been blasted beneath the ground for the Oil exploration work in Jiribam without obtaining prior permission from the Directorate General of Mines Safety , which is mandatory . “… this is a clear violation of law of the land and such high handedness by the Oil India Limited is Highly condemnable and also the government of Manipur for allowing the same’, the organisation stated in the memorandum.
The organisation urged the Government of Manipur , India and the Oil India Limited to stop all form of Oil exploration and extraction of Natural resources from the Indigenous People’ s land immediately in the best interest of the people
