ACT welcomes scrapping of Ting Ting and Lethang projects

GANGTOK, 15 Feb: The Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) has welcomed the scrapping of Ting Ting and Lethang hydro power projects in West Sikkim. An ACT release applauds the efforts of all concerned who have been involved in the historic action of protecting the sacred landscapes and the ecology and environment of the land.
ACT hopes the efforts and success of all organizations involved in preserving the pristine land continues and that Tashiding HEP also is stopped, the release mentions.
The release also welcomes and congratulates the government for “listening to the peoples voice and taking such historic action which will go on to preserve the rich religious and cultural heritage of the land as well as preserving the fragile ecology and the environment which is so important to the preservation of the Himalayan ecology and which will also have a positive long term impact on global climate scenario”. It further expresses hope that more such positive action follows.

No faith in NHPC or authorities, ACT to boycott Stage-IV public hearing

GANGTOK, 20 July: ACT [Affected Citizens of Teesta], following a meeting held on 15 July, decided to boycott the public hearing called for the 520MW Teesta hydel project Stage-IV on 22 July at Namprikdang. The project is to be developed by the NHPC. The meeting also resolved that all ACT members whose lands were marked for acquisition by the government for the company will not give their consent and land no matter what the compensation or threat.
While ACT plans to continue its protest against the project, it is staying away from the public hearing convinced that it was merely an eye-wash and also because NHPC has a track-record of not delivering on promises made at these hearings or even completing conditions imposed on it by the Ministry of Environment & Forests.

ACT seeks ATPIL-SPDC agreement details

GANGTOK, 04 July: The Affected Citizens of Teesta [ACT], in a letter to the Secretary, Energy and Power Department, has sought clarification regarding the agreement signed between Amalgamated Transpower India Ltd. [ATPIL] and the Sikkim Power Development Corporation [SPDC] for the Rolep I and II, Ralong and Cholung Chu Hydel projects; an agreement which was later scrapped.
The project has been reportedly handed over to Athena Power Project Ltd now, who, the ACT letter claims, paid Rs 42.25 Cr for the project. The letter requests the department to make the agreement ‘public and transparent’ by publishing the details in local newspapers.
The letter also seeks clarification on the Rs 50 Cr loan given to ATPIL by SPDC and the Power Deptt.
Reasons behind the scrapping of the earlier agreement between ATPIL and SPDC have also not been made clear, the letter contends, and requests the Secretary to make the Cabinet memo scrapping the said agreement public as well.

ACT wants Forest Deptt to establish NHPC’s reliability to deliver on commitments ahead of public hearing for Teesta Stage IV

GANGTOK, 28 June: President, Affected Citizens of Teesta, Athup Lepcha, has written to the Forest Department to publish the “achievement report” of NHPC’s delivery on conditions imposed on it when it was allowed to proceed with the now commissioned Teesta Stage V hydel project. This, Mr. Lepcha wants released in the public domain by 10 July 2011, ahead of the public hearing called by State Pollution Control Board for 22 July for Teesta Stage IV which also is to be undertaken by NHPC.
In his letter to the Forest Secretary, the ACT president has reminded his office that when the Environmental Clearance ad Forest Clearance was given to NHPC for Stage-V, “specific and strict conditions” had to be satisfied by NHPC.