Oil le Gas Exploration thua SIPHRO Thusuok

Vawisun, August 15, 2012, sun dar 2:00pm khan Vangai Centre, Nehru Marg Churachandpur-ah SIPHRO le Vangai, Tuiruongdung Village Authority (VA) le Lal hai Oil le Gas Exploration chungchang a thil um dan hriltlangna le hmalak dan ding chipchier deuin an hriltlang a.

Vangai le Tuiruong dung a hin Oil le Gas Exploration chu an tan hmasatakna hmun ani lai zingin tuta “Public Hearing” a ding khawm hin iengkhawm inhriettirna, fielna an dawng naw thu VA le Lal haiin an hril. Jubilant Oil and Gas Pvt Ltd hai le Asian Oil Fields haiin hi lai biela VA le Lal hai chu inthi thaina chi hrang hrang hmangin an lo sirde hlak. Mandatory process, hieng – “free, prior, and informed consent of the affected people” ti lem chu van a ra a nih. “Institutional injustice” chu nasatakin hmalatu haiin an chelek a nih.

Tuta exploration hi Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas , Government of India haiin Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Limited (JOGPL) hai chu “exploration and drilling works” sin thaw dingin license an lo pek a nih. JOGPL hai hi India a Noida (UP) a office nei an ni el baka, Nehru Place (New Delhi) a khawm office an nei. An headquarters ruok chu Netherlands a innghat a nih. Anni hi London Stock Exchange (LSE) a chen in register an nih. Exploration le drilling sin hi Jiribam (Imphal East), Tamenglong le Churachandpur a thaw ding a license nei an nih. India sawrkar leh “Production Sharing Contract” (PSC) chu July 19, 2010 khan an inrem siem a; Manipur sawrkar le ruok chu “Petroleum Exploration Licence” (PEL) November 15, 2010 khan an lo ziek ve thung. Exploration le drilling le inzawm hin Manipur-ah 2950 sq kms them a tih.

Nikum 2011 a inthawk khan satellite le aerial survey an lo thawna le inzawmin Manipur a hin 5000 Billion Cubic Feet (BCF) petroleum um dinga an hmu ta sa a nih. A hming mawina dingin “exploration” chu an inbuk ve chauh a nih. Hi sin, exploration le drilling, le inzawm hin tuta company haiin an sum seng ding zat a an riruong chu 240 Million USD a nih. Manipur a hin oil well 30 an tinzawn phawt a, oil well pakhat peia USD 8 Million an invest pei ding a nih. Hmarbiel (Vangai, Tuiruongdung le Hmarbiel) a hin oil well 13 um dinga riruong a nih.

Chu lai chun, “free, prior and informed consent”, mandatory process ding ni ve bawk chu zui ani thak nawh. August 8 khan Parbung a Public Hearing a um a chu Vangai le Tuiruong dung hai chu inhriettirna iengkhawm an pek nawh. Public Hearing um ding khawmin programme a um naw bawk. Parbung a public hearing a khawm khan SIPHRO Hmarram Cell thuoitu, Pu Lalchunghnung chun, tuta sin an thaw naa ava thang ve leiin “Ui ang chauhin an mi sawisak a nih” ti chu Public Hearing-ah a hril. Sin rum intang le risk involve hrim hrim chu Hmar hai an inthawtir vawng. Vai kut sinthawhai le khawm an hlaw an ang thei nawh. Sin harsa po po an thaw lai zingin, CCPur DC chun Public Hearing an nei naa SIPHRO hai hi ti in um ngei, sawrkar hmalakna po po in dodal vawnga a ti nghe nghe. SIPHRO Chairman (Manipur) Pu Buonga chun, “Kan rights sirde a a um phat kan tawng suok chauh ani lem” ati pek.

Manipur sawrkar le Company hai MoU a chun a ram hlu tu hai phalna thang thak loin an ram del, an thing-le-ruo, an huon le an in hai an phalna thang loin suksiet lo ding le pawi themlo ding an ti lai zingin huon, lo, thing-le-ruo chu nasatakin an suksiet der tah. Complain an siem phat leh sipai (Assam rifles) hai le thang khawmin VA le khaw mipui hai chu an inthi thai hlak.

Insirdena karah Lal a ei lo zawn haiin an chan ding nasa takin an zawng zing. “Compensation” ringawt khawm ei chan ding um lo khawpin an mi hnawde zing. Ei thangruola ei ram humhalin ei rights ei chawisang phawt naw chun “development” chu ei ta ding a ninaw ding a nih, ti chu a chieng hle. Tuta, company haiin “Benefits to local people” tia an ziek thlar thei po hai chu hieng hai hi a nih:

* Improvement in roads conditions
* Some temporary direct employment
* Other indirect opportunities through:
- Contract workmen for construction,material handling, etc
- Selling and trading of goods for daily needs
- Fooding and transportation for local workforce
- Vehicle workshops,tyre repair
- Mobile SIMS, telephone booths
* Community activities
* Future opportunities for support/ ancillary industries

Vawisun hin ei ram, ei hnamin thutlukna det deu leh thang ei khaw ta naw chun Centenary dar ei lo vuok ta kha ei bo na dar vuok ding ani el thei an tah. “Development” hmaikawr hi ngainep el ding chi an ta nawh.

Thawro ngaituo tlang ei tiu, an hnu hma hin.

Proceedings of Public Hearing At Parbung (Exploratory Drilling & Allied Activities)

Proceedings/minutes Of The Public Hearing For The Proposed Exploratory Drilling And Allied Activities In Block A-ONN 2009/1 Covering Churachandpur District; Manipur

Date:- 8th August, 2012  Venue:-  Parbung Community Hall, Time:- 12.30pm

List of Panel Members present in the Public Hearing is given below:-

1. Ms Jacintha Lazarus IAS (Deputy Commissioner, Churachandpur):Chairperson
2. Shri H.D. Gangte (Divisional Forest Officer, Churachandpur, Manipur):Member
3. Shri N. Minaketan Singh (Senior Environmental Engineer, Manipur Pollution Control Board: Member
4. Shri Apoorva Ranjan (Vice- President Projects Jubilant Oil & Gas Pvt. Ltd., NOIDA (UP)): Member
5. Shri K. Jagadishwor Singh IFS (Member Secretary, Manipur Pollution Control Board): Convener
6. Shri W. Ibohal Singh (SDO (Parbung), Churachandpur, Manipur):Special Invitee

At the outset Shri W. Roshan Singh, AEE/MPCB requested the panel members to take their respective seats on the dais. He then requested Shri K. Jagadishwor Singh, IFS, Member Secretary, Manipur Pollution Control Board to convene the Public Hearing.

Shri K. Jagadishwor Singh, Member Secretary, Manipur Pollution Control Board welcomed all the panel members and the public present at the Parbung Community Hall for the Public Hearing. He expressed his gratitude to the public for attending the Public Hearing. He informed the public that the Public Hearing is started at 12.30 hrs respecting the local customary traditions/practices. He further said that it is the mandatory requirement for the MPCB to conduct the Public Hearing for the proposed Exploratory Drilling and Allied Activities by the Jubilant Oil and Gas Pvt. Ltd., NOIDA (UP) to ascertain the concerns, views, etc of the local people likely to be affected by the exploratory drilling and allied activities. He also informed the gathering that wide publicity was given for the Public Hearing by inserting notification for 10 consecutive days in local as well as national dailies. The Executive Summary of the draft EIA reports are available in English, Manipuri, Rongmei, Hmar and Paite languages and they can obtain copies of the report. The reports can also be downloaded from the website www.pcbmanipur.org and www.jubilantenergy.com. He also read out the list of wells and their locations falling only in Churachandpur district that are to be covered under the exploratory activities.

The Member Secretary requested the gathering to express their views, concerns, suggestions, etc. regarding the proposed activities so that the same may be forwarded for consideration by the concerned authority of the government.  He then asked the project proponent to give a power point presentation on the proposed activity.

Sl. No.	Name of the village	Well	Sub-Division	District
1	Kamkeilon, Aina, Santing	Well No 1	Churachandpur North	Churachandpur
2	Buolmuol, Muikot	Well No 2	Thanlon	Churachandpur
3	Dailon	Well No. 3	Thanlon	Churachandpur
4	Patpuihmun	Well No. 6	Tipaimukh	Churachandpur
5	Talan	Well No. 7	Thanlon	Churachandpur
6	Tinsuong, Damdei	Well No 8	Tipaimukh	Churachandpur
7	Talan	Well No.9	Thanlon	Churachandpur
8	Parvachawm	Well No 10	Tipaimukh	Churachandpur
9	Parvachawm	Well No 11	Tipaimukh	Churachandpur
10	Tithu	Well No 12	Tipaimukh	Churachandpur
11	Tithu, Sartuinek	Well No 13	Tipaimukh	Churachandpur
12	Parbung, Lungthulien	Well No 14	Tipaimukh	Churachandpur
13	Sipuikon/Tipaimukh	Well No. 15	Tipaimukh	Churachandpur
14	Lower Kharkhuplien	Well No 16	Tipaimukh	Churachandpur
15	Kangreng	Well No 17	Tipaimukh	Churachandpur

Shri Ajay Bisen on behalf of Jubilant Oil and Gas Pvt. Ltd., NOIDA, made a power point presentation in English about the salient features of the proposed project. This presentation was also explained in Hmar by Shri Sangremsiama, SDC (Parbung). The following salient features were covered in the presentation:-

•    Brief Information about Jubilant Oil & Gas Pvt Ltd.
•    Overview of hydrocarbon exploration and present reserves in the country and North East area
•    Block details of AA-ONN-2009/1
•    Features of typical drilling activities
•    Details of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Study done
•    Possible source of pollution and control measures
•    Proposed Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
•    Social activities done and proposed in the block

[A hard copy of the presentation is enclosed as Annexure-I.]

After the presentation, the convener of the Public Hearing requested the gathering to give their views and concerns regarding the proposed Exploratory Drilling and allied activities.

The Deputy Commissioner Churachandpur appealed to the public to maintain a peaceful atmosphere during the Public Hearing. She informed the public that the proposed activity is only an exploratory activity. There will be another public hearing if the project proponents decide to extract oil or gas from a particular region on commercial basis.

Mr. Lalvulthang of Parbung village, Mr. Remruotlien of Parbung village, Mr. Lalthangsang Songate of Lungthulien village, Mr. Lalmakthang of Parbung village, Mr. L Tlanthang of Parbung village, Mr Slsinga of Parbung village, Mr. John Pulante and Lalchunghungn of Senvon village raised questions and expressed their concerns during the Public hearing.

Following questions/queries and answers were discussed:

Objections, Concerns and Queries raised by people:

1. Prior informed consent of the people was not taken before the seismic activity was started and in future no activity should be carried out without consent of local authorities.
2. Benefits offered to the local people by the proposed activity.
3. Up-liftment of the local people and concern for outsiders coming to the work place.
4. Effect on wildlife and organisms by the exploratory drilling and allied activities.
5.Local people not getting the benefits and compensation offered for the damage caused due to survey works
6. Harmful effects due to radiation, pollution, etc caused by the exploratory activity
7. Loss of fertility of land due to the proposed activity.
8. Authenticity of the land lease agreement signed by the company
9. Dangerous condition for the workforce during the seismic survey
10. Suggestion on more public awareness through NGOs working in this area
11. The issue of land ownership and request for recognition of local villages and the village authorities as the rightful body to decide on the fate of their people

Replies/clarifications made by DC:

1. DC clarified that JOGPL has not purchased land but taken it on lease and they have signed agreement with village authority duly authenticated by district administration. They shall follow the same practice in future and district administration shall monitor  them.
2. On a question about royalty DC replied that JOGPL is yet to ascertain the existence of oil or gas. Once they start producing oil or gas, district administration will take this matter to state government in consultation with district council. Royalty is the state level matter and Jubilant has no role to play.
3. On a question of company not seeking prior permission from people or giving poor compensation during seismic survey, DC assured to look into all matters in consultation with concerned village authorities, SDOs and discuss them separately.
4. DC mentioned that this PH is not the last consultation with people. We can have several public consultations in future.
5. Regarding authenticity of the lease agreement, there will be field verification.
6. The company will contact the village authority for recruiting local workforce.

Replies/clarification made by JOGPL:

1. The Company is in investment mode for the proposed exploratory activity and is yet to ascertain the presence of oil or gas and generate revenue.

2. The Company will decide on long term contracts during production stage. At present the company is focusing on exploratory drilling which is for very limited duration. For production, the company will conduct another round of Public Hearing.

3. Drilling requires very limited land of 4-5 ha (effective area) and has miniscule environmental impacts due to adopting international level control measures. If people do not want to share large amount of their land, the land can be split in two parts and make separate lease agreements.

4. The company intends to drill only 2-4 exploratory wells in coming approx 2-4 years to understand the underground geology. However, in case of discovery of oil or gas, the company may have to drill some appraisal wells for which it will seek permission from legitimate land owners/community and proceed.

5. As per current government norms the royalty on gas is 10% and on oil is 12.5 % of production revenues, which goes to the state government.

6. Worldwide, there is no evidence of significant environmental damage during seismic work. There is no radiation or emission coming out to surface as the explosives is used down below in the hole. Nevertheless company takes utmost care in safety from these explosives.

7. Company always prefer to hire local manpower as they know local area much better than anybody else. However the exploration requires skilled manpower and people having several years of relevant experience are deployed depending on their availability including this block, Manipur or the entire country.

8. Our contractor has always taken prior permissions and will continue to do so. However if there is a case where permission was not taken from the legitimate person, we can look into it. Company has done only seismic survey so far and it does not require acquiring land temporarily or permanently except for material/equipment storage and temporary accommodation. The company requires land only for exploratory drilling.

9. So far company has not undertaken any exploratory drilling activity. It is currently doing only seismic survey work for which the current law does not require to do any public hearing. Drilling will be done only after doing this public hearing and obtaining the Environmental Clearance from MoEF, GOI.

Upto the time of commencement of the Public Hearing, the following 5 (five) new written responses about the proposed drilling and allied activities have been received at the venue of the P/H and they are enclosed as Annexure II.

1. General Secretary, Hmar Student’s Association, Parbung, Churachandpur
2. Secretary General, Zomi Human right Foundation
3. President, Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organisation Hmaram Cell
4. Chairman, Tipaimukh Area Village Authority Union, Parbung
5. President, Zomi Students’ Federation, New Lamka, Churachandpur.

The proceedings of the Meeting were finalized in consultation with the public and read over duly. The copy of the proceedings will be displayed in the office of the SDO Parbung for information to public.

The Chairman then thanked the public for their active participation and all those responsible for conduct of Public Hearing. A copy of the list of members/public attending the P/H is also appended as Annexure- III.

A vote of thanks was offered to all the participants in the Public Hearing by the Sr.Env.Engineer/MPCB. The chairperson declared thereafter public hearing to be over.