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.

50% of affected landowners show up for Stage-IV public hearing

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
NAMPRIKDANG, 29 March: The public hearing for the 520 MW Teesta Stage-IV hydel project proposed to be developed by NHPC in North Sikkim was held today here at Namprikdang ground in Upper Dzongu. Around 50% of the affected landowners turned up for the public hearing conducted by the State Pollution Control Board represented by member secretary CS Pradhan, and chaired by DC North, TN Kazi who is also the ex officio chairman of the Public Hearing Panel. Although affected land-owners from all GPUs where land will be acquired for the project turned up today, the participation from Dzongu on the right bank of the Teesta was very low. Two GPUs of Dzongu will be affected by the project - Hee-Gyathang GPU [which has seven wards] and Lum-Gor-Sangtok GPU which has five wards.
Rounding up the public hearing, the DC commented that there appears to have been some misconceptions about what attending a public hearing entails. “It appears that some people were under the wrong impression that attending the public hearing means that NHPC can take their land for the project. It is not so, and the affected people should know that this is the forum for them to clear their doubts and place their demands,” he said.
A total of 250 land owners will be affected by Teesta Stage-IV.
The DC also informed that the public hearing’s verdict was not final yet and explained that the SPCB will now prepare a report on it including the minutes of the hearing and send it to the next authority for clearance.
On the issues and demands raised by the people, he expressed hope that NHPC would work responsibly and keep the people’s sentiments paramount.  He also congratulated NHPC and the people at the public hearing for the peaceful conduction of the public hearing today.
Earlier, the public hearing had started with a welcome address by BK Chettri, Senior Scientific Officer, SPCB.
Next, the NHPC Chief Engineer for Teesta Stage-IV, AK Choudhary, highlighted the salient features of the detailed report prepared by NHPC about the developmental initiatives proposed as part of the Relief and Rehabilitation plan for the project. [see box for details].
The chief engineer further informed that as per present projections, the State government, which is to receive 14.19% of the power generated free, the State exchequer stands to earn Rs. 121.5 crore per annum from the sale of its share of free electricity.
He also announced that BPL families in the affected area will be provided with free electricity connections.
Regarding the employment in the project, the Chief Engineer announced that 50% of the jobs in Grade-III and IV and that 25% of the positions at the executive level would be reserved for locals with preference in all these to be given to land oustees and affected people.  Apart from these, the NHPC will also develop schools and dispensaries in the affected area and assist in upgradation of roads.
Landowners from all affected GPUs: Thingchim-Mangshila, Mangan, Namok-Swayem, Ringhim-Nampatam, Hee-Gyathang and Lum/Gor/Sangtok, attended the meeting, although, as mentioned, only 50% of the affected landowners turned up, with the representation from Dzongu extremely low. It might be recalled that the Affected Citizens of Teesta had called for a boycott of the public hearing and announced that none of its members, affected by the said project, would attend the hearing or give up their lands for it. The Dzongu MLA, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, who also holds the Power & Energy portfolio has also been critical of NHPC’s delivery on commitments vis a vis Teesta Stage-V.
The landowners placed their respective demands at the public hearing and raised various queries about the project and sought clearer explanation of the benefits assured by the NHPC for the region. Primary among the demands was substantially higher rates of land compensation.
Dugey Bhutia, an affected landowner from Thingchim-Mangshila, raised this issue and informed that the land owners were not satisfied with the notified rate of Rs. 18 per sq ft announced in the year 2006 for the project and demanded that this be revised.
CT Kazi, an affected landowner representing the Left Bank Teesta Stage-IV steering committee, enumerated the price that the affected people were looking at. He specified that land acquisition should be done at Rs. 200 per square feet, development of Mangan Bazaar promised and that NHPC should undertake to reconstruct Ringhim Gumpa in Mangan which was devastated by the 18 September earthquake.
Both speakers welcomed NHPC to the project and underlined that they were neither against the project nor the Government and were only seeking that all their demands were fulfilled.
Similarly, Pemchung Lepcha from Tareng village under Lum/Gor/Sangtok GPU, speaking on behalf of affected families from his area, demanded that at least one member from each land oustee family  be given employment with NHPC compulsorily and seconded the demand for an enhance compensation rate.
Panchayat President Kado Lepcha, in turn demanded insurance cover for affected families by NHPC and sought that all locals working at the Forest Nursery be given employment.
Likewise, local employment should be ensured at the PHCs, schools etc. which the NHPC proposes to develop in the affected area, demanded RB Limboo from Mangshila.
Dawa Bhutia, an affected landowner from Thingchim, argued that inflation has hit everyone hard and hence land compensation should be adequately handsome. He also demanded that NHPC should not “lock” away the lands procured by it and allow access to the people.
The queries raised by the landowners were addressed phase-wise by Lendup Lepcha (Manager, NHPC).  Regarding the land acquisition rate, he assured that this would be reworked to the satisfaction of the landowners in consultation with the Land Revenue Department. He also assured that NHPC would do its utmost to meet all the demands raised by the people today.
The Rs. 3,594.74 crore Teesta Stage-IV is proposed over river Teesta. The Memorandum of Understanding for the said project was signed between NHPC and the State Government on 01 March 2006. The project is scheduled for completion in 74 months from the date of CCEA approval.
Also present for the public hearing today were AP Giri, Secretary Power Deptt, Dhiman Parija, Executive Director NHPC, D Chattopadhya, Chief Engineer Incharge NHPC, officials from various departments, NHPC officials and landowners.

Is boycott advisable?

PUBLIC HEARING FOR TEESTA STAGE IV

KC PRADHAN
The Public Hearing for the much in the news Teesta Hydroelectric Project Stage-IV to be located between Dikchu and Sangkhalang has been re-scheduled for 29 March 2012 at Namprikdang in North Sikkim. The project entails generation of around 520 MW of hydro power on a run-of-the-river system through the GoI organization- NHPC. Unlike private sector developers which are to run hydel projects for 35 years and hen hand them over to the State Government, projects implemented and operated by NHPC will be for perpetuity.
The NHPC has, in the past, constructed the 510MW Teesta Stage V which was commissioned some three years back and the 60 MW Legship HEP at Rangit in West Sikkim which was commissioned some ten years ago. As per the terms of the agreement with NHPC, the State Government will get 12% of free power. It is understood the generation indicated in project formulation is at peak period - the monsoon. It would be good for people at large to be told how much revenue has actually accrued to the State exchequer from these two projects during the period in question. This should give a fair idea about how much revenue is likely to be forthcoming after the commissioning of the new project [Stage-IV] for which the State Government has called a Public Hearing as per GoI rules. This is an important matter and all stakeholders – nay, all the people of Sikkim - should give a considered thought. It should be fully supported if the economic gains far outweigh the damages likely to be caused. If the people do not attend the public hearing and the project goes ahead with all the usual sugar-coated pills and smooth talk, it will be the people who are solely responsible and it would be un-ethical to blame the Government or the project developers after the project is commenced. Such is the importance of the Public Hearing and it has great legal sanctity.
I have seen in the local dailies that some people of the affected area are once again likely to boycott the Public Hearing slated for 29th March as the various assurances given by the organization to the stake holders while extracting their consent for Teesta Stage V have not been delivered. People’s apprehensions have been further aggravated by to Sept 2011 earthquake as the main Central Thrust (MCT) line is said to be located in the area from the geological and seismological standpoint. Whether this has been scientifically confirmed or not is different matter, but fact remains the trauma of earthquake, during which Dzongu was badly hit, is still fresh in the minds of the people and they are still in a state of shock. It is premature to rake up the issue of a fresh hydroelectric project though the idea was mooted many years back.
It is pertinent to add here that the stretch from Dikchu to Sangkhalang holds the only expanse of tropical jungle in Sikkim and is the abode to some of the prized plant species like wild bananas, terrestrial orchids, various species of palms, bamboos of great plant genetical interest, besides  home of butterflies. Identifying some rescue homes and rehabilitating these species should be seriously considered. For butterflies, the best option is to go in for massive plantation of both nectar and caterpillar food plants suited for the butterfly species of the area. This could best be undertaken by an independent nature conservation trust with funds forthcoming from the project developers. It is equally important to take into consideration that this stretch of the river Teesta border the protected region of Dzongu - the home of the Lepchas.
The objective of entering into agreements for generation of hydroelectric power in the State is basically, besides Sikkim chipping in its share towards national interest with much-needed clean energy, to augment the financial resources in the State and thus serve not only in its developmental programmes but also meet the expenditure of a bloated Government establishment. The internal revenue generated by various sources at present can barely meet the expenditure of less than half a year. This gives a fair idea how important it is to augment internal resources, and in the given situation, to bank on hydro power generation and get the much needed resource thereof is the only ray of hope. The days of New Delhi pouring money for the asking are over. Unless you stand on your own, you will have no voice – you will rather be looked down upon in the corridors of power in the Centre. They are generous towards all developmental programmes and money will come anyway as allotted annually based on population pro-rata as ascertained by the Planning Commission. In the federal system of governance, this is an inherent right of a State of a Union.  But to run your house for day to day affairs is entirely your resposibility. As someone said: “We might have all the resources for grandiose programmes, but may not possibly have resources to buy even the basic need as salt”.
Taking this point into consideration, at the Public Hearing, if at all held, the concerned department should be able to throw these facts and figures to the participants to gauge whether the project will in reality will fulfill our aspirations. We are harping about earning between Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 1,500 crore by way of revenue by generating around 3000 MW of hydroelectricity within a few years and thus offering Sikkim and the Sikkimese people reasons to be to confident about a bright future – a future in which there will be no financial crunch to launch programmes of our liking with which our younger generation will be well equipped educationally besides maintaining our revered heritage as bequeathed in ancient monasteries, temples etc. in  a befitting manner. And then we will also be able to ensure proper maintenance of infrastructure constructed over the year under Plan Fund which are now lying in state of despair. If this is possible, there is reason to accept some immediate pains for a better tomorrow.
There are reasons for people at large to be unhappy with the deals which are not the most transparent and have been cleared with undue hurry. This has definitely brought some undue hardship, including environmental degradation - not forgetting the religious sentiments in some of the locations endowed with exceedingly rich religious significance and sanctity. But having gone so far as to nearing commissioning of projects, to retract will only lead to litigations which do not always resolve issues. If the economic projections are accurate and State really in a position to make substantial gains, there should a concerted effort to come to a meeting point. The best we could do is to apportion a sizeable portion of the revenue accrued from such projects for the upkeep of religious endowments, besides the welfare of the people in the affected area so that they develop a stronger bond and attach a sense ownership in the Project in question and even help expedite the commissioning at the earliest so that the project-related influx is cleared quicker as well. For all new projects, of course, they can clamour, but remonstrate with a well-studied and clearly reasoned line of argument. The Government, in its wisdom, has scrapped seven projects- 4 in Dzongu and 3 in the West Sikkim. This is in itself a bold political decision and people at large should appreciate the gesture.
All we could possibly say, on the lines written on monolith of Kohima War Cemetery: “For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today”.
[The writer is a former Chief Secretary, Sikkim]

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.

Stage IV affected have a change of heart, now they want only NHPC to develop project

AFFECTED PEOPLE FROM THINGCHIM-MANGSHILA AND OTHER PARTS DECIDE TO ATTEND PUBLIC HEARING THIS TIME
WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 18 March: The affected land owners of 520 MW Teesta Stage-IV hydel project from Thingchim-Mangshila GPU of North Sikkim, in a meeting held today here at Mangshila to discuss the public hearing for the project called for 29 March at Namprikdang Ground in Dzongu, decided that they would attend the public hearing and raise their various demands at the forum and engage in interactions with the project developer, NHPC, and district officials.
The affected people, it may be recalled, had boycott the public hearing called for this project on 22 July last year. Interestingly, the affected land-owners at Thingchim-Mangshila and also some other GPUs have also have also had a complete change of heart. Last year, they had boycott the public hearing in universal dismissal of NHPC and its promises. While they had clarified that they had no objections to the project per se, they had insisted that they could not trust NHPC anymore since they had seen the denials and ignored promises suffered by the affected people of Teesta Stage-V developed slightly downstream from where NHPC proposes to develop the Rs. 3,594.74 crore Stage-IV.
At the meeting held at Mangshila to discuss the public hearing, the land oustees insisted that now they will not accept any private company for Stage IV and insist that only NHPC be taken as the project developer. This stand in favour of NHPC was because they had seen for themselves the scale of community services undertaken by NHPC in the project area of Teesta Stage V, compared to which the performance of private project developers in the area has been dismal, said one of the land oustees while addressing the meeting today.
Other land oustees also lauded NHPC for the support it extended in the region in the wake of the 18 September Earthquake and of how it came to the assistance of earthquake victims and provided them relief materials and managed several relief camps. Earlier, while delivering the agenda of the meeting today, ward Panchayat Tibuk Dilli Ram Limboo informed the gathering about the public hearing called for 29 March at Namprikdang.  Land of a total of 76 families at Thingchim-Mangshila GPU has been surveyed for acquisition for the project and is under demarcation on the left bank of the Teesta, it is learnt.
The meeting also discussed several demands of the affected people including the one seeking land acquisition at the rate of Rs. 50 per square feet.
Meanwhile, today’s meeting also appointed a group of representatives from the GPU headed by the Tibuk ward Panchayat, and including the panchayat secretary and Chewang Lachungpa to meet with the DC North and the Land Revenue Department to discuss the land acquisition rate on 20 and 21 March.
Later, a six-member committee was nominated from the GPU comprising of panchayat Dilliram Limboo, Rapden Bhutia, Chewang Lachungpa, Jigmee Tongden Lepcha, Zomin  Limboo (zilla member) and Sarki Bhutia, Panchayat Secretary to represent the GPU and the affected people and take up their demands at the public hearing.