GANGTOK, 23 Jan: The DC [East], J Raje, has once again stopped the tunnel blasting works being undertaken by Madhya Bharat company in developing the 96 MW project on the Rongni Chu in East Sikkim. It was only about a week ago that the company had resumed blasting works at Sumin, East Sikkim, the site of the project, with the permission of the DC. The blasting works for the construction of the head race tunnel of the project at Sumin had been stopped for the past almost one month and only on 16 January had the company received permission to resume work.
Speaking on the decision taken today, and on the grievances submitted by residents of the area, the DC East said that there would be immediate site verification by his office along with an official from the Mines & Geology Department and till that time the blasting works were to be halted.
Today, affected residents of the area approached the DC to impress upon him the need to stop the blasting works once again as they feared for the safety of their lives and property. It needs to be mentioned here that the residents have also filed a petition in the High Court of Sikkim seeking a stay on the project on grounds primarily alleging violation of certain conditions by the power developer.
The fear of the residents of the area is that the tunnel blasting works can cause extensive damage to their houses and other properties. The additional and more acute apprehension of the people is that there could be a repetition of the earlier incident where the tunnel had collapsed at Adit II. “We have absolutely no faith in the technical competency of the company”, stated the residents.
In fact the reports of the Mines and Geology as well as that of the SPDC similarly criticize the company on these grounds as well. The tunnel collapse had occurred due to the fact that the company which was supposed to be digging 70 metres underground was actually only 3 mtrs from the surface.
The residents of the area are fearful of the fact that the tunnel, which is directly under some of the dwellings, can once again, collapse thereby leading to immeasurable losses. Further more they have also alleged that some of the conditions as stipulated by the DC, East to the company for resumption of blasting works are being violated.
Earlier, the High Court had directed that the blasting works be done under strict supervision. Keeping this in mind, the DC had included certain conditions for Madhya Bharat to follow, including the direction that there be no blasting at night. Furthermore there was also the stipulation in the order granting resumption on 16 January that the local police had to alert that people before hand that there was blasting going to happen in the area. These conditions are alleged to have been violated. The High Court had also taken note that night blasting had to be stopped.
In fact the DC East while granting permission to resume blasting to the company had further stipulated that there should be daily reports, that is, within 24 hours, to be submitted to his office along with other weekly technical reports. The strength of the blasting had also been drastically reduced from the normal 5 mm/ second to 1 mm/ second. The residents still felt that the strength of the blasting was strong leading to their apprehensions.
Speaking on the decision taken today, and on the grievances submitted by residents of the area, the DC East said that there would be immediate site verification by his office along with an official from the Mines & Geology Department and till that time the blasting works were to be halted.
Today, affected residents of the area approached the DC to impress upon him the need to stop the blasting works once again as they feared for the safety of their lives and property. It needs to be mentioned here that the residents have also filed a petition in the High Court of Sikkim seeking a stay on the project on grounds primarily alleging violation of certain conditions by the power developer.
The fear of the residents of the area is that the tunnel blasting works can cause extensive damage to their houses and other properties. The additional and more acute apprehension of the people is that there could be a repetition of the earlier incident where the tunnel had collapsed at Adit II. “We have absolutely no faith in the technical competency of the company”, stated the residents.
In fact the reports of the Mines and Geology as well as that of the SPDC similarly criticize the company on these grounds as well. The tunnel collapse had occurred due to the fact that the company which was supposed to be digging 70 metres underground was actually only 3 mtrs from the surface.
The residents of the area are fearful of the fact that the tunnel, which is directly under some of the dwellings, can once again, collapse thereby leading to immeasurable losses. Further more they have also alleged that some of the conditions as stipulated by the DC, East to the company for resumption of blasting works are being violated.
Earlier, the High Court had directed that the blasting works be done under strict supervision. Keeping this in mind, the DC had included certain conditions for Madhya Bharat to follow, including the direction that there be no blasting at night. Furthermore there was also the stipulation in the order granting resumption on 16 January that the local police had to alert that people before hand that there was blasting going to happen in the area. These conditions are alleged to have been violated. The High Court had also taken note that night blasting had to be stopped.
In fact the DC East while granting permission to resume blasting to the company had further stipulated that there should be daily reports, that is, within 24 hours, to be submitted to his office along with other weekly technical reports. The strength of the blasting had also been drastically reduced from the normal 5 mm/ second to 1 mm/ second. The residents still felt that the strength of the blasting was strong leading to their apprehensions.
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