State Planning Commission members visit quake-damaged power projects in North Sikkim

MANGAN, 24 May: Members of State Planning Commission and Power Department officials visited the different power projects under the state government in North Sikkim on 23 and 24 May in order to take stock of damages and their status.
The State Planning Commission team included Kalawati Subba, JK Bhandari, Ringzing Ongmu, Lhakila Tongden Lepcha, Sonam Tshering Bhutia, Tashi Wangdi Bhutia and Madhan Chettri whereas the official from Energy & Power Department was headed by AK Giri, Secretary Power, NR Bhattarai, Chief Engineer (Electrical), UK Pradhan, Chief Engineer Mechanical, Addl. Chief engineer, AB Rai and other officials.
The team visited the 5 MW Meyong Chu Project where the penstock of the project has been damaged by the earthquake and power generation is suspended at present. The chief engineer, Power, NR Bhattarai while explaining the details of the project to the entourage informed that the said project was commissioned during the year 1993. The said project has already collected revenue of Rs. 24 crore till 2011 where an amount of Rs. 19.17 crore has been invested for developing the project.
The power department official informed that a total of Rs. 2.10 crore has been estimated for restoration of the damages. The people of Toong-Naga GPU also submitted a demand petition to the planning commission for the regularisation of the muster-roll staff who have been employed in the said project for the last 23 years. Kalawati Subba requested the officials to start restoration work as soon as possible since it is affecting the state’s revenue collection.
The team also visited the 3MW Rabom Chu project near Lachen which is also shut down due to major damages sustained in the earthquake. This project has sustained multiple damages where around 150 feet of the entire water supply line for the project has been damaged. Restoration of this project is estimated to cost around Rs 4 crore.
The team also visited the 3MW Lachung Chu project which is supplying electricity to the Lachung area.
Later, when asked about the course of action of the visits, Member State Planning Commission, JK Bhandari, informed that the team will prepare a detailed report and submit it to the Chief Minister who is also the chairman of the State Planning Commission. He further informed that there are 13 projects running under the state government.
Secretary Power, AK Giri while speaking to NOW!, informed that restoration of the Meyong Chu project will take at least 6 months and Rabom Chu will take one year and that the department will begin restoration works as soon as possible. He further informed that the state requires 40 to 50 MW during summers and around 75MW during winters.