Imphal: After signing memoranda of understanding (MoU) with seven private companies on chromite mining, the N. Biren Singh government is gearing up to allow the companies to operate in the state.

The MoUs were signed during the two-day Northeast Development Summit, which was held during the annual Sangai Festival in November last year. The MoUs were signed without the assessment of environment and social impact.

The Geological Survey of India and the state geology and mining division recorded a number of chromite deposits of metallurgical and refractory grade in Ukhrul and Chandel districts bordering Myanmar.

"Seven private companies signed MoUs with the state government on November 22, 2017, for chromite exploration and mining in the state. No assessment has been done regarding its likely impact on the environment and no necessary consent has been sought from the local inhabitants," commerce and industries minister Th. Biswajit Singh told the Assembly during question hour on Tuesday.

When Opposition Congress member Surjakumar Athokpam wanted to know why the MoUs were signed without carrying out impact assessments, the minister said the MoUs were signed only on the willingness of the companies to mine chromite in the state.

"All the details like environment and social impact assessment, royalty to the state from the mining companies, planning and other related issues will be worked out very soon. Even the site of the proposed mining has not been identified. The cabinet will discuss all these things," Singh said. The minister further clarified that the MoUs were only the initial stage of the process and the projects are proposed to be taken up step by step. "The state's income and employment prospects of locals in the mining areas would also be worked out later," the minister said.

Athokpam warned that Manipur could experience the same fate as Odisha, making the native inhabitants the poorest of the poor.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has admitted that India's poorest of the poor live in Odisha because of chromite mining. Therefore, the state should be cautious and study in depth the likely impact of mining," Athokpam said.

The state government had laid the groundwork for chromite mining at a time when citizen organisations in the state have been strongly opposing oil exploration.

In 2010, the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas had granted Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Ltd licence for exploration and drilling work at two oil blocks in Jiribam, Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts.