Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite

Lamka, July 05 2012: The Zomi Human Rights Foundation has raised concern over the mapping exercise conducted by ONGC for exploration of petroleum products in Churachandpur district which it alleged was purportedly done without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous people.

'Recognizing the global importance of oil and its implicit geo-political and economic implications, the Foundation while lauding the discovery of natural gas as 'enlightening,' however reiterates its indignation over the unholy alliance, covertly made between the ONGC and the government with respect to Indigenous land,' said a statement issued by the ZHRF.

The Foundation stands committed and will continue to advocate, lobby and pursue that the rights of the IPs toward their traditional land, territories, waters, resources including sub-surface resources etc particularly the right to be consulted on the basis of free, prior and informed consent, it added.

It also cautioned the Indigenous representatives not to be swayed by such alliance which will endanger the present and future generation of the Indigenous tribal people.

Engineers from a company has begun the mapping exercise which it dubbed is a mere survey, in the interior areas of the district for months now.

The exercise which is said to be a seismic-based involves an 'insignificant drilling and low intensity blasts' yet it has raised many prying locals.

The company however has maintained that it had duly obtained necessary permission from the state and the village authorities.