Tashiding HEP protestors approach Governor

SCRAP PROJECT MEMORANDUMS SUBMITTED TO GOVERNOR AND CHIEF SECRETARY

GANGTOK, 18 Nov: Save Sikkim, an organisation formed by a section of the residents of Yangthang, Tashiding and Yuksam in West Sikkim to oppose the 97 Mega Watt Tashiding Hydro-Electric Project being undertaken by Shiga Energy Pvt Ltd below Tashiding under Yangthang constituency in West Sikkim, today submitted a memorandum to Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh and the Chief Secretary demanding that the power project be stopped immediately.
Members of Save Sikkim, while speaking to the press, stated that since there was no response from the district administration, they had no other option but to go to a higher authority.
“We approached the area MLA, PL Subba, and the DC [West], Santa Pradhan and poured our grievances to stop the tunneling work, but rather then listening to us they said that they had no power to stop the work,” claimed Yabchingla Bhutia, a member of Save Sikkim and a local resident. If the higher authorities are not helping us then whom do we go to, we are helpless, he added.
The villages of Sakyong, Bhaluthang, Kageythang, Sinrekthang and Omluk are situated right above the project area and this area falls under a sinking zone and if the tunnelling work continues it will further aggravate the fragile nature of the area which may lead to natural disasters, he stressed.
The land above the project site has cultivated fields where local farmers are involved in the cultivation of paddy which requires water and there has been a decline in the supply of water and it is clear that once this project starts, there will be an even more acute shortage of water, he further stated.
This will affect cultivation and thus directly affect the farmers of the area, whose livelihood depends on farming, he added.
“We just want the tunnelling work at the site to be stopped immediately until the exercise of the High Powered Committee constituted by the Union Home Ministry to reassess these projects over sacred Rathangchu is completed,” expressed PR Kharka, another Save Sikkim member.
After the 18 September earthquake, a wide crack has appeared on the tract above the tunnel site and allowing the power project work to continue would mean more danger rather than development of the region, he added.
“If the work is not stopped about 400 to 500 families from 10 to 11 villages will be affected and the biggest fear for us now is that something like what happened in North Sikkim can happen in this area as well,” Mr Kharka further stated.
“We have submitted a memorandum to the Governor and the Chief Secretary and we will submit another to the Chief Minister as well and after that we will wait for one week for action on the part of the State government to stop the work at the project site, but even after that, if there is no action taken then we will start mass protest and agitation at the work site,” informed members of Save Sikkim.
Claiming that they had full support of the people of the area, they stated that it in the event that they have to take their protest to the streets, two persons from each house will come out to join the protest. “We are ready to go to any length to protect our land,” they added.
Meanwhile, the members of Save Sikkim allege that tunnelling work at the project site is going on under police protection.