Jal Power given temporary go-ahead to resume work on Rangit Stage IV Adit tunnel

Sludge from Adit-III tunnel bypasses the treatment tank to empty directly into Rangit at
Rohtak in West Sikkim where Rangit Stage-IV hydel project is under development

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 01 March: The inspection team from the West District administration and the State Pollution Board [SPCB], which visited the Adit-II tunnel site of Rangit Stage- IV hydroelectric project at Rothak, West Sikkim, this afternoon has given a “temporary go-ahead” to the project developer to resume work at the site. The DC [West], it may be recalled, had directed that work be stopped when it was discovered that the project developer was dumping untreated sludge [extracted from the tunnel excavation] into the Rangit [click here for details].
Coastal Project Pvt.Ltd, contracted by Jal Power Development Corporation working at the project site had been show-caused by the Department of Forests and the West district administration for “illegally dumping untreated waste” from the tunnels into the Rangit river.

A team of officials of the district administration and the State Pollution Control Board visited the area today in follow-up of complaints filed by the locals earlier, the district administration had also closed down the works here after they found that norms for environment conservation to be initiated by the power developer at the site had been violated causing “negative impact” on aquatic life in the river because of untreated dumping when they inspected the site on 25 February.
The major problem at the site was the direct release of slush and construction material from the excavated tunnels into the river.  The continuous flow of the muck into the river had started since the project work was initiated a year back.
The DFO, (T), Binod Yonzon informed today that the project developer had ‘obeyed’ the orders of the district administration and set-up the disinfection tank which was now operational. He said that the water was first being treated in the tank before being released into the river below.
It was also informed that the SPCB officials have collected samples of the quality of the water and sent it to Kolkata for a water analysis test.  
“We will see if the water being sent through the dis-infection tanks is alright to be released into the river; if the samples fail the water quality tests then we will come down hard on the developer. At the site today, we saw that water was being channelized through the tanks. However, we have also asked them to construct a de-siltation tank further downhill so that the water that gets released is even better, if they don’t oblige then we shall take appropriate action”, stated the DFO (T) West.
The SPCB and the district administration now is waiting for the tests results of the water to arrive after which another round of scrutiny of violation of environmental norms at the project site shall be initiated, it was informed.