Dzongu’s resolve to reject hydel projects welcomed

The Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee and Sangha MLA, Sonam Lama have welcomed the decision of the people of Dzongu led by the Deputy Speaker cum area MLA, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha to oppose all forms of Hydro Electric Power Projects in the area.
It is informed that this decision was made during a brainstorming and coordination session held on 10 May at Hee Gyathang in Lower Dzongu which was attended by the area MLA, Mr Lepcha, panchayats and government employees.

SIBLAC petitions Governor with demand for action against Law Secy

GANGTOK, 07 May: Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee has petitioned the Governor with a request to initiate immediate action against Law Secretary, RK Purkayasth, for what the organization believes was insensitive and incorrect advice to the State Government on the Tashiding Hydroelectric project. SIBLAC believes that Mr. Purkayastha was misleading not only the government, but also the judiciary on this project.
SIBLAC convenor, Tseten Tashi Bhutia, told the reporters today that a memorandum was submitted to the Raj Bhawan and the Chief Secretary yesterday urging them to take immediate action against the Law Secretary.
SIBLAC is offended by the legal opinion given by Mr. Purkayastha to the State Government on Tashiding HEP. This, after the high-powered committee chaired by the then Chief Secretary did not make a clear recommendation on what the government should do about this project. The committee, instituted to study hydel project proposed on the Rathong Chu in West Sikkim, had recommended the scrapping of two projects and not given a clear verdict on Tashiding HEP. Two projects, Lethang and Ting-Ting, were scrapped by the government.

Platform for Joint Action Against Hydropower Project application in High Court dismissed as withdrawn

GANGTOK, 21 June: The memorandum of the “Platform for Joint Action Against Hydropower Project”, submitted to the Chief Justice, High Court of Sikkim, which was initially taken up by the Court as a Civil Miscellaneous Application was heard today for consideration as a writ petition. The division bench of the High Court comprising of Chief Justice Permod Kohli and Justice Sonam P Wangdi today observed that the application had failed to impress the court and that the issues raised in the application had no evidence to act on. The High Court accordingly allowed the petitioners to withdraw the petition with the liberty to file a proper writ petition afresh.
The organization had, on 21 May, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Justice highlighting, apart from other allegations, a report published in Current News, a Delhi-based English weekly, which had alleged a Rs. 20,000 crore scam in the hydel sector in Sikkim. The memorandum had called on the CJ to consider its “letter for taking up as a a suo-moto cognizance / P.I.L”.
The Platform for Joint Action Against Hydropower Project comprises of the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), National Sikkimese Bhutia Organsiation (NASBO, Art.371F), All Sikkim Educated Self Employed & Unemployed Association (ASESE&UA), Affected Citizens of Teesta, SAVE Sikkim, Concerns Lepchas of Sikkim (CLOS), Denzong Chyari Tsogpa (DCT) and All Sikkim Monasteries’ Association (ASMAN).
The Court also observed today that most of the issues raised in the memorandum were already featured in the two writ petitions highlighting concerns on environment, faith and misappropriation and hence there was no need to take up the same matter in a separate application. If the petitioners feel so, they are at liberty to approach the Court in proper manner and proper writ, the bench remarked.
Sunil J. Mathew, the counsel for the petitions accordingly withdrew the application and while speaking to media-persons later, said that they would have a proper petition drafted and filed within a month.

ACT commemorates 5th anniv of hydel protest with dharna

GANGTOK, 20 June: The Affected Citizens of Teesta [ACT] commemorated the 5th year anniversary of its hunger strike against hydel projects in Dzongu here with a token dharna in front of the District Administrative Centre, East. The dharna also reminded all of ACT’s continuing stand against hydel projects in Dzongu, two which – Panan and Teesta Stage-IV – still remain.
Today’s dharna was also joined by members and representatives of the All Sikkim Educated, Self Employed and Unemployed Association [ASESE&UA], Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee [SIBLAC], Concerned Lepcha’s of Sikkim [CLOS], Save Sikkim, Sikkim Bikers Groups and other organizations registering their support of the ACT stand.
Speaking to the media-persons at the dharna, the ACT General Secretary, Dawa Lepcha, informed that after completing the Dharna, ACT members would call on the Chief Secretary, who is also the Chairman of the high powered committee on HEPs, and place a memorandum against mega hydroelectric projects in Dzongu.
The memorandum seeks the early scrapping of the two HEPs mentioned earlier, which, ACT highlights “have been a thorn in the hearts of Dzongu… the last bastion of Lepcha culture and existence”.
The project affected area, apart from being precious for the Lepchas, is also ecologically fragile with the Khangchendzonga National Park and Biosphere Reserve forming a major part of Dzongu, the memorandum adds.
Preliminary investigation works of the projects which involved blasting have resulted in “unprecedented landslides” in an already geologically fragile area, the memorandum further contends.
Welcoming the scrapping of HEPs in Lachen and Lachung, ACT has reiterated that mega dams should be discontinued in the state as Sikkim falls under seismic zone V.
The ACT General Secretary further explained that the objective of today’s Dharna was to reiterate ACT’s opposition to HEPs in Dzongu.
Meanwhile, Save Sikkim member, TR Kharga, said that HEPs must not be encouraged at the cost of the environment, dharma, faith, beliefs and ecology and “most importantly the tug of war with nature should be stopped at once”. He went on to say that Save Sikkim was still opposing the Tashiding HEP in West Sikkim [the only hydel project left on the Rathong Chu, the rest having been scrapped] for which the construction company was continuing with blasting works in an area where tremors are regularly felt.

Power Minister rejects Stage-IV public hearing as a failure

GANGTOK, 01 Apr: Power Minister Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, who is also the Dzongu MLA, has dismissed the public hearing called for the Teesta Stage-IV hydel project held at Namprikdang on 29 March as a failed meeting, contending that a majority of the affected people had stayed away.
Speaking as the Dzongu area MLA, he claimed that 95% of the affected people were from Upper and Lower Dzongu and added that they had not turned up for the public hearing. “How then can the public hearing be called successful as pronounced in the different newspapers?” he challenged.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Mr Lepcha explained that important components of the hydel project like the dam, the intake area, tunnels, power house etc. fall between Namprikdang to Pheedang onbthe right bank of the Teesta in Dzongu, making the land to be acquired here the most important aspect of the acquisition process.
In this regard, he highlighted that from this area, only around 13 people, only two of whom are affected landowners, attended the public hearing. This, almost nil participation of the most affected, made the entire public hearing process a failure, he argued, alleging further that NHPC labourers had been brought to the public hearing to give an appearance of large attendance.
On his problems with the NHPC vis a vis Stage-IV, the MLA pointed out that MoU between the State Government and the NHPC was for a 490 MW project with strict guidelines that the Namprikdang ground should not be submerged given its religious and emotional quotient with the Dzongu residents.
The Power Minister further informed that during discussions on this stipulation, NHPC engineers had stated that the Naprikang ground could be saved from submergence only if the capacity was reduced to 280 MW.
“This being the case, without even I as Power Minister or the Department having been taken into confidence, NHPC ungraded the capacity to 520 MW!” he revealed.
He went on to warn NHPC not to underestimate the people of the State and announced that he would also be raising the issue strongly in the concerned national forums.
The Minister clarified yesterday that he was in the favour of hydel projects “because they will bring development and prosperity to Sikkim”, and was upset because NHPC, with its questionable acts was seeding too many doubts in the minds of the people.
He alleged that the rock and soil investigations in the DPR of the said project were incorrect and desired that an independent agency carry out a fresh investigation into the viable capacity for the project.
He also called into question NHPC’s commitment to the State and its people by arguing that while the 18 September earthquake had received the support and assistance of people and agencies from around the world, NHPC had volunteered no such support to help the State overcome the devastation.

ACT remains steadfast against Stage-IV, affected members not to release land for project

GANGTOK, 25 March: Affected Citizens of Teesta, a protest group opposed to hydel projects in the State, has reiterated its opposition to the 520 MW Teesta Stage-IV hydel project, the public hearing for which has been called for 20 March 2012. In a press communiqué issued today, the ACT general secretary, Dawa Tshering Lepcha, has also announced that ACT members, whose lands form a “major and critical” component of the Stage-IV project, have also resolved not to give consent for the acquisition of their lands for this project.
The ACT stand against the project, the release explains, is to save the last remaining free-flowing stretch of the Teesta [between the 1,200 MW Teesta Stage-III at Chungthang and the 510MW Stage-V at Dikchu]. Teesta Stage-IV, to be developed by NHPC, is scheduled to have its dam at village Chandey and Hee-Gythang downstream from the confluence of Runchu and have its powerhouse near Phidang in North Sikkim.
The first public hearing for the project, called in July last year, it may be recalled, was boycott by all the affected people. This time, however, various sections of the affected people have already announced their decision to participate in the public hearing to be held at the Namprikdang Ground in Dzongu.
“Unlike in the case of other power projects, when not a single landowner doggedly opposed the projects, the members of ACT, whose land form a major and critical component of the Teesta IV 520MW project, have pledged to oppose the project and the land acquisition process,” the ACT general secretary informs.
“No ACT member will give consent to the land acquisition for the project at any cost,” he reiterates.
The release goes on to add that the protest is also based on the experience of the devastation caused by the 18 September Earthquake last year.
“Bearing in mind the earthquake of 18 September 2011, ACT would further like to bring to the people’s attention that as per the EIA chapter on Geological and Seismicity, the Teesta-IV project lies on the Main Central Thrust (MCT) line which is an ominous and catastrophic sign and situation for the future in case of an earthquake,” the release details.
ACT has also appealed to all the people of North Sikkim to once again boycott the Public Hearing “for the sake of Teesta and the safety of future generations”.
“Help us to save the last free flowing section of the Teesta and be proud of our historic action,” the release concludes.

Common Platform takes out rally in Gyalshing against hydel projects

GANGTOK, 13 Feb: The Common Platform for Joint Action against hydel power projects in Sikkim took out a peaceful ‘Pratiwad Rally’ in Gyalshing Bazaar on Monday. The rally started from Kyongsa Ground and went upto the District Administration Centre [West]. A memorandum was also submitted to the Additional District Collector [West].
The members of SIBLAC, All Sikkim Educated Self-Employed & Unemployed Association, Save Sikkim, NASBO, ACT, CLOS, NASS, Gyalshing Bermiok Suraksha Sangh and other organizations participated in the rally carrying placards and banners.
People carried placards with slogans like ‘Scrap the Tashiding hydel project immediately like Ting-Ting and Lethang HPP’, ‘Save Sikkim’ and etc through Tikjuk, Pelling, Sakyong, Gyalshing Bazaar. The rally finally concluded at its starting point at Kyongsa Ground.
Addressing the people, SIBLAC convener, Tseten Tashi Bhutia demanded that Tashiding project should be scrapped immediately like the other two projects on Rathong Chu River. He issued a warning that if the project is not stopped within one week then they would again go to protest carrying black flags this time.
ASESE&UA president, Nawin Kiran stated that the movement will continue until the government shuts down all hydel projects in the state. Likewise, Save Sikkim president, Mani Kumar Khatiwara also stressed on the immediate scrapping of the Tashiding project.

Ting Ting project affected want project.

“We need employment and development” say Ting Ting affected
“No idea of High Powered Committee or why Gangtok organizations want scrapping of projects”
GANGTOK, 10 Feb: It is the most ironic turn of events and revelations of all. While Gangtok based organizations among others, have been calling for the scrapping of the 3 hydel projects in West Sikkim to which the government too has acquiesced, the actual affected people are actually very disoriented by the fact the projects have been scrapped. Not only are they disoriented but also confused and aggrieved by the fact that while some organizations have been calling for the scrapping of the projects no one has actually wanted to hear what the project affected people have to say about the projects.
Talking to NOW one of the project affected and whose lands were acquired by the Ting Ting project developers – and just a month ago at that – Subhash Thapa of Ting Ting Gaon confirms that 90% of the project affected families are in favour of the project. “We had the public hearing just a few months ago and during which all the affected families welcomed the project”, he says. His family has sold 3.380 hectares of land to Ting Ting developers, Shiga Energy and likewise many other families have already sold their lands for the hydel project.
In fact the project affected families of Ting Ting have met with their respective Area MLA and let known to him their grievance at the scrapping of the project. “We intend to approach the Chief minister very soon but have to arrange for vehicles and fares for the families”, Subhas shared with NOW. He informs that they have heard of some organization calling for a rally at Geyzing on 13 February. “Why should they come here for a rally, we will protest against such rallies” he expressed further.
What is more ironic about his statements and the sentiments of the project affected is that they do not recall anyone from the high powered committee constituted by the state government to examine the issues related to the implementation of the 3 projects of Lethang, Ting Ting and Tashiding, all on the Rathong Chu. “We don’t know about the committee nor interacted with them at any time; we don’t know what report they put up to the government or how” expresses Subhas, a 30 year old who is also an ex serviceman.
All the people of the area were happy and optimistic over the implementation of the Ting Ting hydel project in their area as it would have brought development as well as employment for the youth of the area he shares. “We have no objection to the project; in fact we welcomed it during the public hearing in September, 2011. There are lots of unemployed girls and boys in the area, they too want gainful employment and development of the area which is nothing but jungle. The organizations protesting against the projects should understand this” stated the project affected person on behalf of all those affected families who are welcoming the project. It was further stated that the chief minister too should listen to the voice of the people, the actual affected. As per the statement made by the project affected they have been waiting for years for the project, 6 years in fact since the MoU was signed. Just in Ting Ting Goan itself there are 58 families, it was informed.
According to the statements made and shared it is apparent that the project affected are frustrated and confused with their hopes of development, which they have been keeping for a long time, having been dashed.
It is not just the project affected of Ting Ting but also of Tashiding HEP who have welcomed the project in their area with the formation of coordination committees as earlier reported by NOW.

NASBO welcomes scrapping of West Sikkim power projects

GANGTOK, 03 Feb: National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation [NASBO] has welcomed the cabinet clearance and the Government of Sikkim’s decision to scrap both the Lethang as well as Ting Ting Hydro Electric Projects slated over the Rathongchu River in West Sikkim.
NASBO has further requested the Government of Sikkim to issue necessary notifications to this effect, in a press release issued by its president, Sonam Kaleon today. The release also demands the scrapping of the Tashiding HEP.
“We are convinced that good sense prevails in the Government while we would congratulate the government when it issues necessary notifications to the above effect”, the release further states.

Common Platform demands immediate implementation of High Power Committee’s recommendation to scrap the three hydel projects in West Sikkim

GANGTOK, 04 Jan: The Common Platform for Joint Action against Ting-Ting, Tashiding and Lethang Hydro-Power Projects has welcomed the recommendations of the State High Power Committee headed by the Chief Secretary to scrap the three projects on Rathong-Chu.
All Sikkim Educated Self-Employed & Unemployed Association [ASESE&UA] president, Nawin Kiran, said that they came to know of the decision of the Committee from a news report in a local daily [NOW! issue dated 19/12/ 2011] and confirmed through their own sources.

Common Platform files FIR against Teesta Urja, BRO and state authorities on Rangchang Bridge collapse

GANGTOK, 20 Dec: Members from different organizations under the banner of Common Platform for Joint Action against Ting-Ting, Tashiding and Lethang Hydro-Power Projects visited the Rangchang Bridge collapse site today. Later, the group filed a FIR against different authorities in connection with the bridge collapse at the Singtam Police Station. The FIR demands action against Teesta Urja Limited, Border Road Organisation and the related State authorities.

Common Platform warns State govt and hydel developers, urges Governor to exercise special powers

GANGTOK, 18 Dec: The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee [SIBLAC] convener, Tseten Tashi Bhutia has warned the State government and the power developers here not to take the Common Platform against the Hydel Power Projects lightly. He further said that the power developers would only be wasting their money in the State if they continued pursuing their projects here.

Anand Lama seeks to move petition against hydel projects to Supreme Court

GANGTOK, 15 Dec: Anand Lama of Pani House, Deorali, has taken his petition against all hydro power projects in the State awarded to private developers, to the Supreme Court. The petition was initially filed in the High Court of Sikkim, but the petitioner has now got it transferred to the apex court. The tentative date for the admission hearing of the petition in apex court is scheduled for 03 February next.

Common Platform welcomes Governor’s observations on hydel projects

GANGTOK, 15 Dec: “We believe that the ruling SDF Government does not have any long-term vision in the development of hydro-power projects in Sikkim,” contends a press release issued by Convenor, Platform for Joint Action against West Sikkim power projects, the SIBLAC convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia.

‘Common Platform’ against hydel projects condemns arrest of faith healers in Tashiding

…REITERATES CALL FOR THE CM’S PERSONAL INTERVENTION TO RESOLVE HYDEL DILEMMA
GANGTOK, 12 Dec: Responding to the Sunday incident in which 7 faith healers were arrested by the West Sikkim police from the Tashiding hydel project site, the Common Platform against Hydel Power Projects today requested the Chief Minister to personally intervene on the West Sikkim hydel projects issue.

Groups protesting HEPs on Rathong Chu consider mounting larger agitation

GANGTOK, 11 Dec: The “Common Platform” against Hydel Power Projects, a coming together of various organizations to protest hydel projects on the Rathong Chu, has threatened to graduate from writing petitions and issuing press statements to launching an agitation soon if the State government does not take up their protest seriously and review the hydel projects in question in the earnest.

Tashiding youth extend support towards Common Platform against HEPs

GANGTOK, 11 Dec: Tashya Tsogpo, a youth organisation of Tashiding, West Sikkim has also extended full support towards the recently formed Common Platform of different organisations against the hydel projects in West Sikkim.

Kalzang Welfare Assoc seconds scrap hydel projects on Rathong Chu demand

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: The Kalzang Welfare Association of Tashiding in West Sikkim has also joined the ongoing debate over hydro-power projects on the Rathong Chu in West Sikkim. In a press release issued by its president today, the association has called upon the State Government “to kindly scrap all the anti-Buddhist Hydro electric project proposed over sacred Rathongchu River and declare the entire stretch of Yuksam-Tashiding-Pemayangtse, the interior Bayul Dremo Jong, as Project/Human activity free zone in ensuring preservation and protection of the sacredness of the same”.

Monks welcome Joint Action against hydel projects on Rathong Chu, confident CM will scrap projects

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: All the Sikkimese monks and monasteries have welcomed the Joint Action launched by eight organizations to protect and preserve the sacred Rathong Chu, conveys a press release issued by the general secretary, Enchey Monastery, Lopen Tshering Norbu Lama.

Joint Action against hydel projects on Rathong Chu submits memorandum to CM

GANGTOK, 05 Dec: The eight organizations which have come together for Joint Action against Hydro Electric Power Projects in West Sikkim today submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister with the demand to stop Ting-Ting, Tashiding and Lethang Hydro Power Projects.