Photo Courtesy: nenews
Kohima: The Indian government, alongside the state governments of Assam and Nagaland, signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding in New Delhi this week to initiate oil and mineral exploration in the disputed border areas. The agreement covers more than 1,000 square kilometres of territory, with plans to launch operations across six identified fields in Nagaland.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the event as a historic moment for the region. He noted that past law and order challenges and unresolved boundary disputes had previously prevented the full utilization of the area's natural wealth. Under the new agreement, officials expect to increase current oil extraction capacities by nearly tenfold, moving from current levels of 1,000 to 1,500 barrels to significantly higher outputs. Amit Shah stated, "If we extract the oil deposits spread across Nagaland, we would be able to reduce dependence on foreign countries for our oil needs."
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio described the agreement as a new chapter for the state that will strengthen inter-state cooperation and create tangible economic benefits. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasized that the pact removes a major bottleneck that has long hindered the development of shared natural resources. He noted that the initiative is part of a broader government objective to foster growth in the Northeast while securing national energy self-sufficiency.
The signing ceremony also featured Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Beyond energy production, the government views the agreement as a success for cooperative federalism and a critical step toward unlocking economic potential in the region.
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