Kohima: Nagaland officials hit the brakes on oil exploration plans. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production met in a session led by Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio. The room packed in cabinet ministers, advisers, MLAs representing oil-rich zones, and brass from the Geology and Mining department. No decisions came out of the talks.
Advisor for SCERT and Food Processing Achumbemo Kikon emerged from the meeting to confirm that discussions remain ongoing. He cited the weight of Article 371(A) as a primary hurdle. The constitutional provision guards land and resources, vesting ownership firmly with the citizens. Kikon emphasized the burden on elected officials to prioritize local interests above industrial gain. He stated, "First we have to protect our people and our resources and land first. Then the rest follows."
The committee also addressed rising tensions regarding the Disturbed Area Belt. Reports of a potential Zubeen Garg statue in the Assam Rengma Forest area remain unverified. Kikon pushed for better ties between Assam and Nagaland to manage the border effectively. Both states continue to trade communication at government and citizen levels to keep the peace. Officials are balancing legal maneuvers with open dialogue to settle the ongoing border disputes.
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