Paralegal volunteers complete training in Chungthang

DIKCHU, 20 Oct: The valedictory function of the three-day long 2nd Phase training of Para Legal Volunteers was today here at Chungthang SDM office in North Sikkim today.
The training was organized by the North District Legal Services Authority on the directions of the Sikkim State Legal Services Authority. Fifty-five trainees from Lachung, Lachen, Chungthang, Shipgyer and Toong-Naga GPUs; Panchayats, NGO representatives and local public took the training with the objective to work towards enhancing awareness and understanding among the general populace on legal matters.
The valedictory function had the District & Special Judge (SSLSA), Karma Wangchuk Bhutia, as chief guest, who handed over the certificates and identity cards to Paralegal Volunteers and urged them to circulate proper legal services message to the rural folk. He reminded them of their role as bridges for better legal services to the lay people and to minimize crime in the society.
He further commented that land disputes and other social disputes could be settled on 23 November on the occasion of the National Lok Adalat and that such disputes at village level should be informed to authorities by Para Legal Services Volunteers.
During the three-day training, the paralegal volunteers were imparted knowledge on legal matters by resource persons Sonam Palden Bhutia, Tashi Rapden Barfungpa and Tshering Wangyal Bhutia, all three of whom are advocates.
District and Sessions Judge JB Rai also spoke today on the nature of legal services, free legal services, complaints or suggestions and how legal aid can be availed.
Judicial Magistrate/ Civil Judge, North, Binay Sharma, shared that they have received positive feedback from the trainees and the result will also be positive.
Likewise, Lendup Lepcha, Panchayat president Chungthang GPU on behalf of the Panchayat and pipons extended gratitude to the SSLSA for providing such fruitful training to the public, Pipons and Panchayat.
Also present for the function was SDM-Chungthang, TT Bhutia, SDPO, Panchayat members and Pipon of Lachung and the trainees.

Chungthang residents dismayed with SBI’s continuing poor service

ALSO DEMAND REMOVAL OF DEFUNCT AIRTEL TOWER
MANGAN, 12 Oct: The State Bank of India (SBI) Chungthang branch has always remained suspect in the eyes of the people when it comes to providing quality service to customers here. For the past couple of years, the SBI service in this area has been, well, sluggish at best.
Villagers here have always been facing difficulties in terms of transactions, especially in times of emergencies when cash withdrawals are constantly denied citing “link failure”.
People here inform that SBI’s service got worse post the 18th September earthquake last year as compared to State Bank of Sikkim (SBS). Whenever, customers visit the bank for a transaction they have always been directed to go to Mangan SBI.
“This has hampered payment of school fees for our children and other important works”, complained Lendup Lepcha while speaking to NOW! The people here have requested for any other bank to replace SBI so that they do not have to face problems.
Meanwhile, residents of Chungthang have demanded for the immediate removal of Airtel Tower which has been installed here at Chungthang for more than a year without providing any services. Despite the public’s request for early activation of the Airtel network in Chungthang owing to the poor BSNL service, this tower remains defunct and abandoned, and now, an eyesore as well.

Electricity supply to Chungthang restored

LOCALS EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO POWER DEPTT PERSONNEL WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE
MANGAN, 12 Oct: The Chungthang Sub-division was severely hit by incessant rain on 21 September where electricity supply had also collapsed. Chungthang town which had to face total blackout for couple of days was provided street lights through generators managed by the SDM office with three DGs being utilized for emergencies.
Electricity supply to Chungthang was badly affected with a number of electric poles and wires washed away in the slew of landslides which hit the area three weeks back. The Power Department had to battle tirelessly in order to restore electricity supply where reaching the poles to affected areas was one of the biggest challenges owing to several active landslides beyond Mangan.
Yesterday, however, the department was finally able to restore electricity to Chungthang. The residents of Chungthang expressed their gratitude to the power department staff posted in the area especially to Karma Lodup Bhutia [AE] and Nimzang Lepcha [JE] under whose guidance supply has been restored.
“This time we are really impressed by the Power Department officials for their dedication towards their responsibility”, said former panchayat president Chungthang, Lendup Lepcha on behalf of the people while speaking to NOW!
Meanwhile, the Mangan-Chunthang road was also restored yesterday at Lanthey Khola. The Chungthang-Lachung road is expected to resume in the next two days.

Report on Cases of Slope Failure/ Landslide and Flash Flood in parts of North Sikkim [As updated on 27/09/2012 at 2:00 pm]

1. R.K Singh, Union Home Secretary had a telephonic conversation with the  Chief Secretary today and inquired about the current situation in disaster affected areas and assured all support from Government of India.
2. The weather is under improved condition.
3. The road connectivity from Chungthang to Lachen will open tomorrow [Friday].
4. BRO is putting all man and machine to open Chungthang-Lachung road and is expected to be opened at the earliest.
5. Water supply is restored.
6. Food material is being transported in the interior areas of North Sikkim. 80 bags of rice transported yesterday to Lachung. Today Dal, Atta, M.oil, Poly Pipes, Raincoat , Torch Light, candles are being dispatched.
Chief Secretary is convening a special emergency meeting on 28/09/2012 with all the Heads of the line Departments, DGP, GOC, Indian Air Force, BRO and BSNL etc. to discuss about the latest situation. The meeting will discuss about the assessment of damages in North Sikkim and other districts as well, Progress of immediate restoration of Power & Water Supply, Communication and Roads as well. All the interlinked departments and organization has to assess the damage for preparation of memorandum to be submitted to Government of India.
Sd/-
(S.B.S Bhadauria)
Secretary cum State Relief Commissioner

Distraught 15 yr old son of missing GMWC worker makes desperate attempts to reach Chungthang

MANGAN, 25 Sept: A desperate 15 year old Adesh Kumar [pic alongside] trekked for the third day in a row today from Jang basti in Lower Tintek to Mangan in hopes of making it through to Chungthang. The litter of landslides beyond Mangan thwarted his efforts today as well. He needs to get to Chungthang because his father, Bishvanath Ram, is one of the people listed as missing and feared killed in the landslide which claimed three lives at the Teesta Stage III hydel project site at Chungthang on 21 Sept.
Adesh is the second son of Bishvanath Ram, an operator employed with the General Mechanical Workers Company at the hydel project site. While Bishvanath worked at Chungthang, his family – wife and four children – lived at Jang.
With his eldest brother bed-ridden with a fractured led at present, it fell on Adesh to accompany his mother to Mangan in hopes of making it to Chungthang, a journey they have been undertaking every day since Saturday. They have not made it beyond Mangan thus far. The family is in panic, distraught over their inability to get to Chungthang and traumatised by the news that has reached them of their father being among those missing and feared dead at Chungthang.
The weight of the sorrow and uncertainty is obviously too harsh for Adesh’s young age, but the situation is such that he has no option but to shoulder the responsibility of looking for his father and ascertaining his fate. His only hope of achieving closure is to get a lift on one of the helicopter sorties to make it to Chungthang and meet the concerned authorities there and find out about his father.

Chungthang loses water and power supply lines to slides

DIKCHU, 24 Sept: Spared a direct impact of the flashfloods and landslides which have scarred the hills around it with ferocity, Chungthang in North Sikkim, cut off from the rest of the State expect by helicopter sorties, has immediate worries over water and electricity supply. The series of slides have disrupted the supply lines of both, water and electricity to the region, and although stop-gap arrangements are in place at present, the residents aspire for more permanent and resilient solution.
As things stand, the town and its surrounding areas have been without power and water supply since Friday. Impressively, for anyone who has seen the scale of damage, the Power Department managed to restore electricity supply to Toong today and are confident of completing the repairs up to Chungthang by Thursday at the latest.
In the meanwhile, the SDM office has arranged power for streetlights by pressing three generators into service. Further, the Chungthang household will be provided with kerosene on Tuesday to meet lighting requirements at home.
As for the water supply, the PHE Department is engaged in repairing the lines even as drinking water is being supplied across town in tankers provided by Teesta Urja. A problem however persists in that the water at the source is also murky and muddy at present. The water supply line is expected to be restored in the next few days. [from WANGCHUK BHUTIA]

The Rangma Range Horror

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
CHUNGTHANG, 24 Sept:  “It was a horrific night as around 50 of us [86 RCC staff] spent the entire night huddled inside vehicles, too fearful to proceed anywhere since we did not know which areas were safe and unable to venture out since it was pitch dark and dangerous,” recollects Bhupendra Kumar, of the BRO personnel caught in the landslide which tore through the 86 Road Construction Company headquarter at Rangma late on Friday evening. Twelve lives, including wives and two children of BRO officials, were lost to the incident that night. Eight bodies have been recovered so far.
As for the camp, it is lost. The damage too extensive, and the location too dangerous to be resettled.
The camp, around 4 km ahead of Chungthang towards Lachen, is the worst hit by the 21 September series of landslides. The inundation here was brought down by the Darek Khola which flows through the camp and which broke its banks at 7 p.m. on Friday. Apart from the lives lost, standing infrastructure has sustained extensive damage – two tipper trucks, one Ashok Leyland truck, one 407 carrier, two ambulances and an air compressor lie buried under the debris.
A cluster of houses along with the GREF office and other staff quarters have been washed away. Offcials inform that office documents have also been lost.
Meanwhile, the BRO personnel have been shifted to the ITBP camp nearby for present.
OC 86 RCC, Maj. Mukesh Kumar, while speaking to NOW! said, “We have not ascertained the extent of damage to the road and have been engaged in relief and rescue for the past couple of days. That said, we have already begun restoration works at some of the places.”

Landslide Mayhem up North

Jhoras break banks around Chungthang, pour landslides claiming 20 lives

The devastation at the GREF camp at Rangma Range above Chungthang. The Barey Khola broke its banks here on Friday evening and poured tonnes of debris on the camp, claiming 12 lives and burying two tipper trucks, two ambulances, one ‘407’ carrier, one Ashok Leyland Truck and one compressor of the BRO apart from tearing through built up property here. Photographs from two angles are displayed here to reinforce the scale of devastation.

Pegong near Chungthang where the khola, the flood scars of which are visible in pic, tore through the ITBP camp here claiming four lives on Friday evening.

Kalapathar above Chungthang where on life was lost of the Friday flurry of slides. In the background is the Teesta Stage II dam site where three lives were lost.

WANGCHUK BHUTIA

CHUNGTHANG, 23 Sept: A litter of landslides peeled off the hills in and around this North Sikkim sub-divisional town of Friday evening as a series of jhoras broke their banks and unloaded tonnes of debris on ill-fated habitations below. While the entire district has been severely hit by landslides, the four major slides around Chungthang have collectively claimed 20 lives, with the flash flood on the Barey Khola flowing through the 86 RCC camp of the Border Roads Organisation at Rangma Range 4 kms beyond Chungthang towards Lachen alone claiming 12 lives.

While the landslide at Rangma Range is reported to have occurred at around 7 PM on Friday, the one at the ITBP camp at Pegong, 3 km short of Chungthang, was reported between 5-6 PM, Kalapathar near Chungthang at 5 PM and the right bank of the Teesta Stage III project site at around the same time.

Among the casualties are 4 ITBP personnel at Pegong, 12 BRO personnel at Rangma Range, one at Kalapathar and three employees of the General Mechanical Workers Company at the Teesta Stage III dam site.

Two injured persons from General Mechanical Workers Company, Rajveer Singh and Rajdeep Singh were rescued on Saturday morning but unfortunately, one succumbed to his injuries while being flown to Gangtok yesterday. 

Of the dead bodies recovered so far, five have been identified: Bid Bahadur at Kalapathar, three bodies from Rangma Range identified as Sanjay Gurung [resident of Nepal], Montu [resident of Uttar Pradesh], Rohit [resident of Darjeeling] and a JCO of GREF.

Meanwhile at Rangma Range, six bodies have been recovered thus far. Those feared killed at this location are: SK Sikhiya with family, Asstt. Somu Kernal, JE Administrative, JE Civil, NT2 Raj Narayan, Manger Ram, Siddhiram and family.

Two persons Bishvanath Ram [resident of Bihar] and Amarjeet Singh [resident of Punjab] are still missing from General Mechanical Workers Company.

Four ITBP personnel have also been reported missing at Pegong where one RCC building and two Kutcha houses have also been damaged.

There has been substantial damage to the infrastructure and property as well with six houses and one ICDS centre washed out at Kalapathar. These houses belong to Nedup Bhutia, Pratima, Ram Kumar, Payching, Raju Tamang, Rojer Rai. 

As the slide destroyed their houses, the victims could not save any of their belongings.

“We have not been able to save our belongings inside the house. All our earnings, our hard work has been wiped out by the slide”, said Kipa Bhutia of Kalapathar whose house has also been washed away.

At Rangma range, kutcha houses belonging to Serkay Baidar, Bishnu Chettri, Gyaltsen Lepcha, Yangtse Bhutia, Damber Bahadur, Passang Diki, Suman Rai and Posi Sherpa have been damaged.

Similarly, the SSA kitchen shed at Bop Primary school which is 4 kms away from Chungthang towards Lachung has also been damaged and all the utensils and other belongings inside the kitchen have been washed away. 

The landslide also swept away three steel bridges across the Lachung Chu where around 60 workers of SEW company were stranded and evacuated on Saturday. Some of the workers were evacuated by a team of locals and administration headed by SDM Chungthang, Raj Yadav. 

The relief and rescue work is being continuously carried out by teams headed by SDM Chungthang with Zilla Adhyakshya North Khamsoong Lepcha, BDO Chungthang Jigmee Wangchuk Bhutia, SDPO Chungthang, GREF personnel, ITBP and Army personnel, Panchayat members headed by Lendup Lepcha and the local people.

MLA Lachen-Mangan TW Lepcha, DC North TW Khangsarpa and Sr SP North BK Tamang also visited the affected areas.

Water supply and electricity supply lines have also been badly damaged. At Chungthang, drinking water is being provided through tankers by Teesta Urja. Meanwhile, the affected families were provided with Rs. 10,000 each from the SDM Office today as ex-gratia payment for damaged houses under NC fund. The SDM office has also set up a relief camp at the Gurudwara in Chungthang for the affected families.

Apart from these, vehicles and machineries of GREF and SEW company have also been damaged. The Charten ward of Chungthang GPU has been cut off due to a steel bridge being damaged.

The SDM Chungthang, Raj Yadav while speaking to NOW! informed that the administration is focusing on relief and rescue at present and added that the buffer stock of rice is in place for Chungthang sub-division which will last for at least 15 days. He further informed that kerosene will be provided to every household Sunday. 

The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority team headed by Kesang Nima Bhutia is also engaged in relief work and has provided tent, rain coat, gumboot, torch light etc. to the affected people.

Four of the recovered dead bodies were cremated here at Chungthang after post mortem at Chungthang hospital. The cremation was undertaken with the help of panchayat and local people.

Chungthang slide claims one

MANGAN, 21 Sept: A major landslide here this evening at Kalapathar near Chungthang [between Pegong and Chungthang] has claimed the life of a GREF Chowkidar.
The landslide washed away two houses belonging to Kipa Bhutia and a kutcha house in which the GREF Chowkidar was living.
The deceased was at home when the landslide peeled off the hill above and tore into his and the neighbouring homes and swept him away. Till the time of going to print, his body had still not been recovered.
Another major slide also occurred on the right bank of the Teesta at Chungthang damaging SEW company’s site [a sub-contractor of Teesta Urja which is developing the 1,200 MW Teesta Stage III Power Project in Chungthang]. The slide damaged the bridge across the river and also damaged the project site.  People on the right bank have been stranded owing to the bridge collapse.
The officials, panchayats and public have begun rescue operations but the continuous rainfall and shorter days were causing problems.

Chungthang remembers 2011 earthquake victims

CHUNGTHANG, 19 Sept: The public of Chungthang paid homage to lives lost in last year’s earthquake in a programme held at the Gurudwara complex on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of the 18 September earthquake which had claimed 17 lives in Chungthang and a total of 69 lives in North Sikkim. Chungthang was the worst hit of all Sikkim towns by the earthquake last year.
The programme, organised by the SDM Office, was attended by Joint Secretary, SREDA, Tashi Chopel as the chief guest [he was the Chungthang SDM when the earthquake struck last year], SDM Chungthang, RK Yadav, Panchayat president Lendup Lepcha, Army officers, ITBP and Sikkim Police officers, Guru Nanak Lama Sahib committee members from Delhi, Punjab, Siliguri and Chungthang, representatives from state and national level NGOs and different departmental officials.
The programme started with prayers by Mani Aamas followed by presentation of certificates of appreciation to all the helping hands and rescue teams for their support in the aftermath of the earthquake last year.
After that, the ITBP jawans gave a demonstration on disaster risk reduction at Tasa Tengay Sec. School complex.
The chief guest in his address, thanked all the organizations for their help and coordination during the hour of crisis last year. The programme concluded with a candle light rally and two minutes silence for all those who lost their lives in the earthquake and also for Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche who passed away at Delhi on Tuesday morning.

Post-quake town plan for Chungthang unveiled

GANGTOK, 06 Sept: A presentation regarding the post earthquake Town Planning of Chungthang was made yesterday at the conference hall of the SDM’s office complex in Chungthang, North Sikkim.
The presentation was made by Joint Chief Town Planner, Rajesh Pradhan and Assistant Architects from the Design Cell, UD and HD. The presentation involved various designs and infrastructure development wherein feedbacks and suggestions were also invited.
The meeting was attended by the SDM, BDO, SDPO, Government officials of the line departments, local panchayats and local gentry. The release mentions that the local public expressed satisfaction over the entire presentation and urged for the proposal to be implemented soon.

REC to give additional Rs 995 cr loan for Teesta III hydel project

GANGTOK, 13 Aug: With the Teesta Stage III hydroelectric power project at Chungthang being developed by Teesta Urja now facing uncertain delays and suspension in construction activities over a variety of reasons, the cost of the project is informed to have escalated to more than Rs. 8,500 crore. Not only has the cost escalated, but seeing the progress of works at the project site especially after being hit with the earthquake of 18 September during which a number of workers lost their lives, it is unlikely that the project will be commissioned next year as scheduled.
However, now it is informed that the project will be infused with fresh funds by Rural Electrification Corporation of India. The REC, it is learnt, will extend an additional loan of Rs 995 crore to the 1,200-MW Teesta III project. This will take the REC’s total lending to the project to Rs 3,095 crore.
REC is a leading public infrastructure finance company in the power sector under the Ministry of Power; it promotes and finances rural electrification projects across India. The company provides loans to central and state sector power utilities, state electricity boards, rural electric cooperatives, NGOs and private power developers.
Teesta III project has seen substantial cost overruns due to delays on account of natural calamities as well as legal hurdles. With the roadway connecting to North Sikkim often blocked by landslides, construction activity has been affected. A major factor in the suspension of activity at the project site has been the disallowance in the traffic of heavy vehicles along the north Sikkim roads since the collapse of the Rangchang bridge. However project officials still maintain that the project will be complete by December next year with 70% of the works completed.
It is informed that the cost overrun is about Rs 2,700 crore. The additional term loan of Rs 995 crore will include Rs 851 crore senior debt as well. Initially REC was to lend Rs 2,100 crore for the project. The fresh amount has been sanctioned since the project cost has jumped to Rs 8,581 crore from Rs 5,700 crore which was the initial estimate. It is informed that REC communicated to project developer Teesta Urja about its decision to sanction the additional loan sometime last week.
Only a few weeks ago, the State government had infused its part share of equity into the project amounting to about Rs. 162 crore out of a total of Rs. 292 crore which allows it 15% stake in the project. The state government is awaiting further sanction of funds by the Power Finance Corporation to infuse its full share of 26% equity in to the project. Singapore-based Asian Genco Pte holds 50.1 per cent stake in Teesta III project.

Chungthang unhappy with delay in rim treatment at Teesta Stage-III

CHUNGTHANG, 29 May: Residents of different wards under Chungthang GPU expressed their dissatisfaction with the Teesta Urja Company, which is developing the 1,200 MW Teesta Stage III project at Chungthang in North Sikkim, for non execution of rim treatment in the area. The public of Chungthang raised the issue at the Gram Sabha convened here on 28 May.
It may be informed here that rim treatment seeks to mitigate the geo-environmental hazards in a project area.
Samdup Lepcha from Pegong ward claimed that tremors rippled by blasting undertaken for project construction had resulted in maximum damages in his area. Highlighting that the company has not fulfilled its commitments under its Rehabilitation & Resettlement policy, he informed that proper rim treatment is required below Pegong village where the project is under construction.
The locals also contended that the company is issuing contract works at old rates [of 2006 vintage] and local contractors are incurring losses due to this. This, they further stated, had been intimated to the company officials but they have remained willing to make any changes.
The public further mentioned that the company has not provided details with regard to the duration of the scholarship awarded to students.
The footpath and land in the Chorten ward has also been extensively damaged due to project construction works, it was informed. The people of the affected areas have demanded that the project developer fulfill its commitments towards the public.

Lachung Rinpoche leads 4-day Neysol prayers held at Chungthang

CHUNGTHANG, 10 May: Four days of Neysol prayers were held here at Rikzing Choeling Monastery in Chungthang in North Sikkim from 07 to 10 May. The prayer was jointly organized by the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim [TAAS], the public of Lachung, Lachen and Chungthang, Hotel Association of Lachung, Chungthang Kiduk and North Sikkim Taxi Drivers’ & Truck Driver’s Associations.
The prayers, led by the Lachung Rinpoche, were performed by around 100 monks representing different monasteries of North Sikkim including those at Shipgyer, Naga, Singhik, Lachung and Chungthang.
The prayers were held for world peace and for those who lost their lives in the 18 September earthquake last year.
“We also believe that after this puja, the landslides at some trouble-spots will be stabilized,” shared Chungthang Panchayat President, Lendup Lepcha while briefing mediapersons here today on the concluding day of the prayers.
Special prayers have also been conducted at several troublespots like Khedum near Lachung, the Theng slide, Bop and Rangma Range on the road Lachen road where the “Sakchog Boomter” brought from Deorali Chorten has been installed underground after prayers by the Rinpoche and monks.
The final day today had the “zenshek puja” offered at the Rikzing Choeling monastery and “kawang” offered later by the Rinpoche.
Zilla Adhyaksha North, Khamsoong Lepcha while speaking to NOW! expressed gratitude towards all the zindas (patrons) and the well-wishers for supporting the prayers and making it such a success. The devotees and zindas from Lachung, Chungthang and other parts of North District attended the prayers including Lachung Pipon, members of TAAS headed by Palzor Lachungpa (Advisor), members of Hotel Association Lachung and North Sikkim Taxi Driver’s Association.

Chungthang residents aggrieved with SBI and BSNL service failures

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 10 April: The public and Panchayats of Chungthang have expressed dissatisfaction with the services of BSNL and the State Bank of India in the area. Due to BSNL’s disrupted service, for the past week customers of the SBI Chungthang branch have been facing problems in transactions because of link failures.
People have not been able to withdraw or deposit cash at the bank for the past week which has especially affected parents whose children are studying elsewhere.
The public also informed media-persons on 09 April that Chungthang has not been supplied LPG cylinders for the last 23 days and now people have no option but to use firewood.
Also, bad road conditions have already started hampering transportation even before the onset of monsoon and the public have appealed to the Food, Civil supplies and Consumer affairs department officers for buffer food stocks before the rainy season begins.
Even the CDMA network has been disconnected for the area which was provided in September 2011. With the monsoons just around the corner, the authorities need to take notice of such basic problems being faced by the public of Chungthang and take pre-emptive measures before it is too late.

Govt accepts White Paper recommendation, takes in ATPIL as strategic partner for SPDC

MEGA PROJECTS PLACED UNDER POWER DEPTT WATCH, SPDC TO DEVELOP MINI HYDEL PROJECTS
GANGTOK, 08 April: The State government has entered into a strategic joint-venture with ATPIL to run the Sikkim Power Development Corporation [SPDC]. The SPDC is now being operated by ATPIL, the company which has also floated Teesta Urja which is developing the 1,200 MW Teesta Stage-III hydroelectric project at Chungthang, North Sikkim. The State government continues to hold majority equity in the Corporation as it has offloaded 49% equity to ATPIL which was selected from among the best performing private hydel developers in the State, it is informed.
This decision was taken by the State government in light of the poor performance of the SPDC over the past years [among other factors] and in order to infuse some professionalism and expertise into the corporation. For the selection of the strategic joint venture partner, tenders were floated on the basis of which ATPIL was selected to take 49% of the stake in SPDC, it is further learnt.
The managing director, SPDC, in charge of the affairs of the SPDC is from ATPIL and the day to day operations are under ATPIL now. However, in a major policy shift, all major power development projects which were so long under the SPDC have been transferred to the Power Department. The SPDC is now in charge of developing only mini HEPs in the State. A few of these are already under development and all are under 5 MW capacity. Incidentally, the White Paper issued by the State government a few years ago on hydel power development in the State is also informed to have recommended the forging of a strategic joint venture with a private developer for SPDC.
It has been candidly stated that the SPDC, under the Power Department since its establishment in the year 1998, could not function properly due to various shortcomings. Earlier, the corporation was undertaking the big power projects in the State many of which it could not implement in time. Due to this, some agreements entered into with some companies had to be cancelled, including one with ATPIL.
The SPDC itself was established for the development of hydel projects by availing loans from financial institutions, however, several projects could not be completed due to constraints which included organizational capacity limitations, funds and expertise. So, when it could not operate to the expectations of the government and started incurring losses, it was decided to offload 49% equity to a private developer.
Today, as mentioned, the SPDC is engaged in the development of a few mini HEPs in the state while all the big HEPs have been transferred to the Power Department. The strategic joint venture with ATPIL was entered into with by the state government last year.
The government has also made it clear that the SPDC shall have no rights under any Implementation Agreement with any private Independent Power Producer (IPP) entered for development of hydro power projects in the State by such private IPPs and all land acquired by SPDC will now be under the State government.

One killed of electrocution in Chungthang

GANGTOK, 25 Jan: One person working at the Teesta Urja construction site at Chungthang is reported to have died of electrocution. According to reports, Hasta Bahadur Rai, working as a field assistant with Abir Infrastructure at Chungthang died of electrocution at the work site. He was a 32 year old resident of Bom Basti, Kalimpong.
He was found by his colleagues in the room above their mess lying on the floor with his face on the heater and his body on fire. This was at around 1:30 pm on 24 January. As soon he was found in this condition, his colleagues immediately disconnected the power but Hasta Bahadur Rai had already succumbed. He was immediately rushed to the Mangan hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Awareness on labour welfare reaches Chungthang

CHUNGTHANG, 25 Jan:  The Department of Labour, North District held its second day of awareness on welfare benefits to the workers of Chungthang on 24 January at the dam site of 1200 MW H/E Project. The function was chaired by SDM Chungthang RK Yadav and began with a two-minute silence for those who lost their lives in the 18 September earthquake.
In his welcome speech, the Deputy Commissioner Labour Department, North briefed on the Implementation of Building and Other Construction Welfare (RECS) Act 1996 and distribution of Welfare Benefits to Registered Beneficiary workers in North Sikkim.  He further highlighted about labour welfare and informed that the workers who work continuously for three months or more in a particular establishment may obtain the relevant forms from the Labour department for registration of workers and beneficiary after deposition of required fee as per the Rules.    
Apart from it, the beneficiaries will get welfare facilities based on their needs like medicine, injury compensation, death compensation etc. The Deputy Commissioner further mentioned that the workers should get Sunday as a paid holiday and added that if they are entitled to work on a Sunday then the workers should be paid with double wages.
He also spoke on the timely payment of wages to the laborers and safety measures to be undertaken at the work site.  
The chief guest, SDM Chungthang, while addressing the workers informed that there should be coordination among the workers and the management for better implementation of work and further appealed to the workers to be united.  The SDM stressed on avoiding working overtime because of health concerns and urged them to give time to family as well. He further appealed to the workers to ensure that safety measures are taken while working and also added that every worker should be aware about this Act.
The function concluded with the vote of thanks by Brig. Ranjit Mishra (Sr. DGM AIPL)
The function was also attended by Panchayat President Chungthang, Lendup Lepcha, officials from Labour Department, officials from the Power Project and the workers from SEW and Navayuga Engineering Company, sub contractors under Teesta Urja Company.
A total of 510 registered laborers were provided with one blanket and one hot case each from the department during the day. Similarly, an awareness programme was also held today at Theng Adit II for the labourers of Abir Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd. where the function was chaired by Brig. Ranjit Mishra (Sr. DGM AIPL).
A total of 450 labourers were provided with one blanket and one hot case each from the department after the function here.

Chungthang residents place grievances with District administration

PUBLIC DISSATISFIED WITH SLOW PACE EARTHQUAKE REHABILITATION AND RESETTLEMENT WORK 
MANGAN, 10 Jan:  The Panchayat and public of Chungthang held a meeting with the North District administration here at the BDO’s office at Chungthang in North Sikkim yesterday.  The meeting was attended by DC North, TN Kazi, SDM Chungthang, BDO Chungthang, SDPO Chungthang, Panchayat members and the affected people.
During the meeting, the Panchayat president, Lendup Lepcha on behalf of the people highlighted the grievances of the people. He expressed that even after four months since the earthquake nothing has been done for the resettlement and rehabilitation of the affected people. The people have already approached the concerned authority but no feedback has been received as yet.  He also informed that the assurance given by the Chief Minister during his visit to Chungthang has also not been fulfilled.
The Panchayat president also highlighted that many experts from reputed institutions have visited and inspected the damage site and given assurances but nothing has materialized of that as well, Chungthang suffered a lot of damage to life and property in the earthquake but the people of the area feel that they are being neglected since no immediate action has been undertaken to reinstate normalcy in the area.
Water and electricity, although temporarily restored by the department is still erratic. He also informed that the houses which have totally collapsed and damaged cannot be dismantled due to lack of expert advice.
Similarly, other affected people also highlighted the problems faced by them during the meeting.  The people also demanded compensation from Teesta Urja as houses have suffered cracks due to the continuous blasting which has rendered government as well as private properties unsafe.
At the end, the people appealed to the District authority to place their demands to the higher authorities and requested for early action. The DC North, in turn assured the people that immediate restoration work will be taken up in consultation with the higher authority and appealed to the people to have patience as everything will be carried out according to government procedure and norms.
It may be added here that the Ramam power house which supplies electricity to Chungthang and its surrounding areas is also not functioning.  The roads too need maintenance work at several places where there is a risk of stones shooting down.

Affected Chungthang residents demand compensation from Teesta Urja for loss of life and property to the Earthquake

GANGTOK, 01 Nov: Now that much of the confusion, uncertainty and apprehension surrounding the earthquake, its damages and subsequent assessment have settled down and with things appearing to be returning to their normal course the focus of the people who faced the brunt and brute force of the 18 September earthquake, particularly in Chungthang, has turned towards its possible causes and their earlier ire against the 1200 MW Teesta Urja Hydel project being developed at Chungthang.