Multi-disciplinary Committee to ensure environmental safeguards formed for Rongnichu HEP

GANGTOK, 27 Jan: The State government has constituted a Multi Disciplinary Central Level Committee for the 96 MW Rongnichu Hydro Electric Project being developed by Madhya Bharat Power Corporation Limited in East Sikkim.
The committee, which is under the Forest Department, is chaired by the Conservator of Forests (Land Use & Environment) and includes officials of various departments, including Power, Fisheries, Health, Mines & Geology and also a representative of the Sikkim Pollution Control Board. Other members include SDM East and also a representative of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests at Shillong, Meghalaya; representatives of Ashoka Trust for Ecology and the Environment and officials of Madhya Bharat which is the power developer.
The multidisciplinary committee has been set up to monitor and ensure the implementation of various environmental safeguards made incumbent upon the power developer and the State government during the construction and implementation of the project. It will have to look into and take up any environment related issue that may arise during this period.
The committee will also chart out the methodology to regulate payments to be made to the various State government departments by the power developer in connection with the 96 MW Rongnichu HEP in East Sikkim. These will include payments for afforestation, land acquisition etc in connection with the construction of the project.
The constitution of such a committee is mandatory on the part of the State government as part of the conditions under which the Ministry of Environment and Forests grants the Environmental Clearance and also as per the Agreement signed between the power developer and the state government. The Environmental Clearance was granted by the Ministry in April 2007. The nature and content of the monitoring will be according to the conditions of clearance granted by the Ministry.