CCpur: Five CSOs have raised their objection to the proposed Public Hearing of Manipur Pollution Control Board over oil exploration exercise at Parbung village in Churachandpur district.
A joint resolution of the Hmar Student Association GHQ, Zomi Students' Federation GHQ, Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organisation, Zomi Human Rights Foundation, and Zeliangrong Student Union said they had decided to object the hearing in toto as the people were not informed or have no knowledge about the pros and cons of Oil exploration and extraction; and that the Oil exploration would affect the cultures, traditional livelihood, socio-political life of the Indigenous people and the flora and fauna of the region.
The resolution which is said to have transpire following a detail deliberation on the Oil Exploration without free, prior and informed consent by Jubilant Oil and Natural Gas Pvt Ltd also dubbed the agreements for Oil Exploration between M/s Jubilant Oil and Natural Resources Private Limited and the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources, Government of India as discreet and incomprehensible.
It also condemned the state government for given a permission to use an area of 4000 square kilometers which includes the Tipaimukh Project area for the exploration work without any consultation of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC).
The Manipur Hills Regulation Act, 1947; Indian Constitution Article 371 (C ); which protects, promote the existing traditional tribal Chieftainship institution and tribal right over land have been undermine by the governments as well as by Jubilant Oil and Natural Resources Private Limited, they charged.
The resolution states further their resolve that the Government provide a constitutional Protection and safeguard to Tribal land, culture, customs, values and traditional institutions such as Chieftainship; International Labor Organization 107 Article 11 be protected; and that the States should promote and defend the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR), Vienna Conference Declaration, 1993 and United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
~The Sangai Express
