The Public Meeting was jointly organized by Maklang Youth Development Club, MEPWAK, Village Women Coordinating Committee (VWCOC) and Loyalum Apunba Meirapaibi.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Majabung Kamei (Speaker Zalianglong Baudi), Mr. Likmabam Tompok. (Social Activist), Mr. N Jiten (President Khaidem Golden Youth Club), Mrs. W Prabha (President VWCOC), Mr. L Jatisor (Social Worker) and Mr. Ch Nabadeep (President MYDC Maklang).
The meeting was attended by the villagers of Maklang, Karong, Sangaithel, Ngairangbam, Luker, Khadem etc of Imphal West District.
Manipur, often referred to the land of jewels, indeed is a land of Gold, as evidenced by the presence of precious minerals and resources. Never ever before has Manipur been subjected to aggressive development onslaught as visible today. Of late, multinational oil companies such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Jubilant Energy, the Oil India Limited (OIL), the Asian Oilfield, Alphageo etc has been involved in clandestine efforts to expropriate oil resource from all over Manipur. The oil exploration move in Manipur is also facilitated by the North East Hydrocarbon Vision 2030, introduced in January
The new policy envisages preparing enhance oil and gas production in Manipur and other NE States in next the next 15 years.
Ever since the Asian Oilfield Services Limited bagged a Rs 143-crore contract from the Oil India Ltd (OIL) in January 2017 for 2D seismic data, the private company commenced oil surveys in Jiribam, Tamenglong and Imphal West Districts in Manipur[2]. The oil survey envisages to cover almost all of Manipur till its Burma border. The Asian Oilfield tried to seek No Objection Certificates (NOC) from several villages such as Keimai, Sibilong, Oinamlong villages in Tamenglong District for surveys without divulging key information on the proposed plan.
The company commenced surveys in Khaidem, Moidangpok, Sangaithel villages in Imphal West since May 2017. On 17th May 2017, villagers of Khaidem Village expressed concern with the oil survey company with the non-provision of information of the project, the absence of detailed impact assessment due to surveys and direct oil exploration. Villagers expressed in media that the companies failed to give any prior notice to the village and also to take their consent. Moreover, the Asian Oilfield blasted multiple explosive devices during their survey without clear information on the impacts and safety and also by contaminating agriculture land. A community meeting held on 18th May 2017 at Khaidem village also resolved to stop all oil exploration works in Khaidem Area.
Earlier, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India granted license to Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Limited (JOGPL), based in Netherlands for exploration and drilling works[3] in two oil blocks in Manipur located in the Jiribam, Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts of Manipur. The contracts were awarded to JOGPL under the eighth round of New Exploration Licensing Policy Eight round. The Government of India have signed the ‘‘Production Sharing Contract’‘ on 19th July 2010 at New Delhi with JOGPL for onland oil blocks in Manipur[4]. In 2011, the Jubilant Energy entered into contract with Alphageo and Asian Oilfield for surveys in the two oil blocks. However, in January 2017, the Oil India Limited (OIL) conferred contract to Asian Oilfield in January 2017. There is no information as to how the Oil India Limited initiates survey works through Asian Oil Field for oil exploration and it is unclear if Jubilant Energy has been dropped from the oil exploration plan in Manpur. There is also no information if Jubilant Energy has transferred their Manipur oil contract to Oil India Limited (OIL). It seems that Manipur is simply mortgaged or transferred from one company to another without consulting its people.
The Speakers namely Mr. Majabung Kamei (Speaker Zalianglong Baudi), Mr. Likmabam Tompok. (Social Activist), Mr. N Jiten (President Khaidem Golden Youth Club) strongly condemn the step taken up by the government of India and the Asian Oilfield Service Ltd without the consent of the people of Manipur. They strongly opposed the highhandedness by the Profit making companies.
Resolution of the Meeting
1. The Oil Exploration in Manipur must stop immediately.
2. We will not compromise our land with money.
3. The Asian Oilfield Service Ltd should GO BACK.
4. Will start different form of Agitation if the Oil Exploration continues.
