Oil India Limited (OIL) is hopeful of starting exploration in Nagaland

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) said, “ Nagaland is a promising area and we are hopeful of stating exploration activity in the state. Government Of India, government of Assam and Nagaland are engaged in discussion, we are very hopeful that this will get sorted out and we will start exploration activity.” In May this year following opposition to oil exploration in Nagaland, the state government has stated that exploration in the disputed areas with Assam will not start before consulting all stakeholders and tribal bodies of the area.

Nagaland deputy chief minister Y Patton had said, “The government will hold a consultative meeting with all stakeholders before signing the MoU with Assam government. The government will hold consultation with tribal bodies and civil societies of the oil-bearing areas of Nagaland—Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Wokha, Nuiland, Dimapur and Peren.” The NSCN-IM and Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), both of which are in the peace process, said that the natural minerals and resources should not be explored without arriving at a final solution to the Naga political issue.

OIL has a 3000 sq. km area in Nagaland.

CMs of Assam, Nagaland held talks on settlement of border dispute, agreed in-principle on exploring oil in disputed areas for economic benefit recently. Both states have in-principle decided to go in for a MoU on oil exploration in the disputed areas along the inter-state boundary so that oil can be extracted and royalties shared between the neighbouring states.ONGC had earlier stopped E&P activities in Nagaland in 1994 after the militant outfit NSCN (IM) asked it to quit the state.