KOHIMA: Former Lok Sabha MP and NDPP member Tokheho Yepthomi has sharply criticized the ruling government in Nagaland, expressing serious concerns over Assam's unchecked oil exploration in areas claimed by Nagaland. He also highlighted the government's lack of sincere efforts in allocating land for the development of Dimapur Airport and its failure to take swift action against encroachers at Dimapur Railway Station, both of which hold significant growth potential.
Addressing the issue of oil extraction, Tokheho Yepthomi recalled that in 1994, Nagaland received ₹33.83 crore in oil royalties from ONGC's experimental exploration and extraction. This included a 15% royalty rate, along with an additional 3% under Article 371A.
Yepthomi further stated that oil extraction was halted due to internal disagreements and opposition from civil society, which cited Article 371A to assert that land and its resources belong to the people, opposing the involvement of outsiders in oil extraction. He also noted that Naga political groups had resisted oil extraction until the achievement of Naga independence.
Meanwhile, Yepthomi pointed out that amid such circumstances, Assam has successfully developed oil fields along the Assam-Nagaland border and established four oil refineries. These include the Digboi refinery, which initially had a capacity of 0.50 MMT (million metric tons) and was later increased to 1.00 MMT per annum; the Guwahati refinery, with its capacity enhanced from 1.00 MMT to 2.00 MMT per annum; the Bongaigaon refinery, which expanded from 2.35 MMT to 5.00 MMT per annum; and the Numaligarh refinery, set up under the Assam Accord in 1985, with an original capacity of 3.00 MMT, now increased to 9.00 MMT per annum and fully operational.
Yepthomi stated that the initial combined production capacity of the four oil refineries was only 5.85 MMT per annum but has since increased to 17.00 MMT per annum. He further highlighted that the Assam government, in collaboration with the Government of India, has successfully developed 19 oil fields to meet the demands of these refineries.
According to Yepthomi, four of the oil fields are located along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, one near Churachandpur on the Assam-Manipur border, and seven within Nagaland. These include Champang, Hozukhe, Khopanala, and Toshezu, with indications that oil extraction might also be taking place from the Nikihe, Tokishe, and Phishikhu oil fields.
Yepthomi stated that oil extraction has been ongoing along the Assam-Nagaland boundary and within Nagaland for the past 51 years. He attributed this to the “unresolved Naga issue,” which, according to him, has enabled Assam to accumulate significant oil revenue during this period.
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