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.

As per the Environmental Clearance, NHPC was under obligation to “fulfil biological and engineering schemes in forest and agricultural land”. It was also directed to submit a separate study on butterfly species existing in the project area and also a report on the impact of reduced water flow on the aquatic ecology of the Teesta.
NHPC was also required to submit detailed plans to impart skill training to selected locals “to integrate them in developmental activities” and also undertake additional compensatory afforestation on a 10 hectare plot. The corporation was also under obligation to invest 1% of the project cost on Ecological Conservation in the affected area.
ACT wants NHPC’s delivery on all these obligations to be published before it was allowed to proceed with its third hydel project in Sikkim.
The letter further reminds the Department of its own proposal to divert 147.30 hectares of forest land for Stage-V, against which NHPC was required to carry our Compensatory Afforestation on 250 hectares of degraded forest land. How this was done should also be shared with the people before the public hearing of another hydel project by NHPC is held, the letter states.
Interestingly, as per the clearances awarded to NHPC, it was also under obligation to stabilise major landslides in the area. Mr. Lepcha has enquired after which landslides NHPC has managed to stabilise thus far.
ACT has also sought evidence on the condition that NHPC hand over 122 hectares of non-forest land to the Forest Department to compensate for the 147.4230 hectare of forest land consumed by Stage V.
The letter further reminds the Department that it had filed a civil suit against NHPC for recovery of Rs 14 crore for damages caused to forests. NHPC should inform the public about the status of this suit, the letter stresses.