PETROLEUM EXPLORATION LICENCING IN MANIPUR AND SOME ISSUES AND CONCERNS

One of the development processes which has flouted all human rights norms on indigenous peoples' rights in Manipur is the case of provision of licensing for oil exploration and drilling in Manipur by the Government of India to a Multinational Company without informing and taking the consent of the indigenous peoples. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India granted license to Jubiliant Oil and Gas Private Limited, based in Noida, a Multinational Oil Company in 2009 for exploration and drilling works1. Under the Eighth round of New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP-VIII), the Government of India have signed one production sharing contract on 19th July 2010 at New Delhi for onland oil block in Manipur, codenamed (AA-ONN2009/1) with the Jubilant Oil & Gas Pvt Limited 2. The total area granted for oil exploration is 3850 Square Kilometres, which is almost one sixth of total geographical area of Manipur. The Government without informing the people had already undertaken extensive surveys for oil exploration in Tamenglong, Jiribam and Churachandpur Districts, where the Zeliangrong, Meitei, Hmar and Kuki peoples resides. In the year 2003 and 2009, the Government had undertaken a comprehensive promotional exercise to promote the oil blocks through road-shows at New Delhi, London, Houston, Calgary and Perth, inviting bids for Oil Corporate bodies for explorations. These licensing is in the premise setting that all hydrocarbons deposits in India belongs to the Union3 which completely contradicts the provisions of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which mentions clearly that all resources in indigenous peoples land belongs to them and they have exclusive rights own, control and mange their own resources in accordance to their wishes and aspirations. At the moment, the Government of Manipur is facilitating the Alpha Geo Private Limited, based in Hyderabad, India in preparation to conduct Seismic studies at Tamenglong district for necessary explorations4. Entry 53 of List I of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India outlined that regulations and development of oilfields and mineral oil resources, petroleum and petroleum products, other liquids and substances declared by Parliament by law to be dangerously inflammable falls under Union list which is in the exclusive control and management of the Central Government of India. Notwithstanding the absence of free prior and informed consent, there has been no environmental impact assessment due to exploration and drilling in Manipur. Neither there has been any assessment of the impact due to influx of immigrants as oil exploration related exploration and drilling work and increase militarization, which would further aggravate human rights violations, including violence against women. No one is Manipur is aware of what kind of terms and conditions are laid down in the licensing between the Government and the Jubiliant Oil and Gas private Limited and how the people of Manipur would benefit from this entire process of oil exploration. With the high prevalence of corruption and state priority to maintaining security machinery, the limited loyalty, if provided to Manipur will never reach its peoples, but would rather facilitate more conflict and human rights violations and to more poverty as the territory and resource which they depend for survival are taken away and polluted. There is no information as to how the oil will be transported and whether new pipelines would be laid and whether these pipelines would be an additional source of environmental catastrophe and rights violations. The efforts to explore and drill oil in Manipur involves a process of disrespect and non application of human rights based approach to development, one that recognize indigenous peoples rights, more with self determined development over their land and resources and which integrates universally accepted human rights norms and principles.

Signing of PSC for AA-ONN-2009/2 Under NELP-VIII, Source: http://www.dghindia.org/nelpviiiblock.aspx

Manipuri gi Block ani dagi Petroleum Louthoknaba Jubiliant Energy da exploration license Pikhre, the Poknapham daily, 25 April 2011. The Oil Fields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948 , The Oil Industry (Development) Act, 1974; Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land), Act, 1962; and Petroleum & Natural Gas Rules, 1959, Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 4 Circular of the Director, Commerce and Industry Department, Government of Manipur, Date 31 March 2011, Memo no. D(5)-15(1)/IND/2010/IH7
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Manipuri gi Block ani dagi Petroleum Louthoknaba Jubiliant Energy da exploration license Pikhre, the Poknapham daily, 25 April 2011.