Tripura Tribal Areas District Council run by the TIPRA Motha was forcing the ONGC, OIL, IGGL etc corporations to pay up huge money to obtain ‘No Objection Certificate’ for ‘operating in the ADC areas’. Allegations were being raised since the time TIPRA Motha came to power in the ADC that some of the MDCs were hitherto asking money from the exploration and gas supply entities operating in the state– unofficially. Of late, however, the TTAADC started sending these letters for “NOC” to them officially signed by the ADC CEO. The demand started from Rs 1 crore. And there was inexplicit threat that if the amounts as asked were not paid, their operations would be affected in the ADC areas-in simple terms they would not be allowed to function.
As it happened there were also reports that in some cases some amounts were also paid. Added to the demand for money was agitations instigated against the exploration and supply agencies to exert pressure. Apart from that there was sudden demand for ‘exorbitant’ price by landowners in the ADC areas on lease for laying pipelines , exploration and production of natural gas. Such incidents of what the corporations termed as simply ‘unbelievably brazen and blatant extortion’ in Tripura, were never heard of though these leading explorations and supply giants of the country had been operating in the state for four to five decades. Since their works are mostly in the ADC areas, any such threat and extortion would undoubtedly have serious repercussions and it might even result in close down, or drastic reduction of their operations in the state– with a tail spin affect in not only revenue earning but also in power supply to CNG supply to many related services. At present the productions and supply are heavily hit for such ‘extortions’ and pressure tactic.
As the ‘extortion’ pressure increased and put the exploration giants at their wit’s end, they all came together and brought the matter to the notice of Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha. The Chief Minister evidently could understand the seriousness of the situation and immediately called an emergent meeting on Wednesday evening at 7 pm at Civil secretariat. The meeting chaired by Chief Minister Dr Saha himself fwas attended ONGC, IGGL, OiL and other related organizations, industries minister Santana Chakma, Tribal Welfare minister Rampada Jamatia, Chief Secretary J K Sinha, industries secretary , Law secretary, Advocate General and all other senior bureaucrats concerned. The TTAADC CEO also attended the meeting. ONGC, IGGL, OiL all produced their papers and TTAADC letters. ONGC even presented a PPT presentation to explain the gravity of the situation. The meeting lasted for more than one hour where Chief Minister, industries Minister, Tribal Welfare Minister et al expressed their serious concern and took strong note of it. Legal experts like Law secretary and Advocate General opined that such demands were clearly illegal and amount to ‘extortion’. Chief Secretary J K Sinha also took exception to the way money was being demanded. The TTAADC CEO who also present in the meeting could not convincingly explain the legal and other stands for such NOC letters but indicated that he sent the letters at the behest of the political bosses and under pressure.
PPT Presented by ONGC in the meeting with CM
The Chief Minister visibly angry asked the ONGC, IGGL, OiL etc to submit all their papers and whatever their statements to the government by Thursday itself for doing the needful and actions.
