STATE GOVERNMENT GETS POSITIVE
GANGTOK, 04 Nov: Hydel projects have been a sore point with the people of Sikkim and a bone of contention for the state government and affected people in particular. Following the controversies surrounding the establishment of NHPC Stage V at Dikchu and the development of 1200 MW Teesta Stage III by Teesta Urja among the more elaborated ones in the state the government now seems to be grappling with the one raised by the proposal to develop 3 hydel projects in West Sikkim with certain organizations here protesting these projects.
Taking the objections raised in its stride the government has now deemed it fit to set up a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to examine issues related to the project implementation etc of the 3 concerned projects.
This is an interesting as well as a positive step by the government as it comes just days after reports that the central government, particularly, the Ministry of Home Affairs had constituted a committee to look into the same. In fact according to reports the central government is supposed to have formulated a high powered committee to look into concerns of religious and cultural nature raised by SIBLAC and NASBO over development of the 3 hydel projects in West Sikkim.
It is informed that the state government has constituted a committee to review and examine issues relating to the implementation of the concerned 3 hydel projects in West Sikkim, all on the Rathong chu namely 99 MW Ting Ting Hydro Electric Project; the 97 MW Lethang HEP and the 96 MW Tashiding HEP. The projects are located in the Yuksom – Tashiding constituency.
The 6 member committee is to examine and evaluate the existing norms and recommend to the state government on the feasibility to incorporate modifications if required. All line departments will also be contacted by the Committee for consultations to examine whether all relevant issues have been appropriately addressed. Chaired by the Chief Secretary, the other members include Secretary, Industries; Secretary, Law; Secretary, Land Revenue; Secretary, Ecclesiastical and Secretary, Power Department as the member secretary.
This move of the state government has ostensibly followed the reaction of the central government as well as the several representations made to the state government by certain organizations here such as SIBLAC and the Buddhist associations raising concerns about erosion and disturbance of certain religious and cultural symbols attached with the Rathong Chu river on which all the three named projects are to be developed. In this regard the central Minority Commission had also written to the state government to look into the issues raised by the mentioned organizations. The Minority Commission had also intimated the Prime Minister on the issue raised by the associations here in Sikkim.
While 96 MW Lethang HEP had not been accorded the No Objection Certificate by the National Wildlife Board the other two had obtained environment clearances already. The National Wildlife Board had rejected the project proposal for the Lethang HEP in November, 2010. As for the other two projects they are in the initial stages of acquiring land for the project, it was informed.
GANGTOK, 04 Nov: Hydel projects have been a sore point with the people of Sikkim and a bone of contention for the state government and affected people in particular. Following the controversies surrounding the establishment of NHPC Stage V at Dikchu and the development of 1200 MW Teesta Stage III by Teesta Urja among the more elaborated ones in the state the government now seems to be grappling with the one raised by the proposal to develop 3 hydel projects in West Sikkim with certain organizations here protesting these projects.
Taking the objections raised in its stride the government has now deemed it fit to set up a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to examine issues related to the project implementation etc of the 3 concerned projects.
This is an interesting as well as a positive step by the government as it comes just days after reports that the central government, particularly, the Ministry of Home Affairs had constituted a committee to look into the same. In fact according to reports the central government is supposed to have formulated a high powered committee to look into concerns of religious and cultural nature raised by SIBLAC and NASBO over development of the 3 hydel projects in West Sikkim.
It is informed that the state government has constituted a committee to review and examine issues relating to the implementation of the concerned 3 hydel projects in West Sikkim, all on the Rathong chu namely 99 MW Ting Ting Hydro Electric Project; the 97 MW Lethang HEP and the 96 MW Tashiding HEP. The projects are located in the Yuksom – Tashiding constituency.
The 6 member committee is to examine and evaluate the existing norms and recommend to the state government on the feasibility to incorporate modifications if required. All line departments will also be contacted by the Committee for consultations to examine whether all relevant issues have been appropriately addressed. Chaired by the Chief Secretary, the other members include Secretary, Industries; Secretary, Law; Secretary, Land Revenue; Secretary, Ecclesiastical and Secretary, Power Department as the member secretary.
This move of the state government has ostensibly followed the reaction of the central government as well as the several representations made to the state government by certain organizations here such as SIBLAC and the Buddhist associations raising concerns about erosion and disturbance of certain religious and cultural symbols attached with the Rathong Chu river on which all the three named projects are to be developed. In this regard the central Minority Commission had also written to the state government to look into the issues raised by the mentioned organizations. The Minority Commission had also intimated the Prime Minister on the issue raised by the associations here in Sikkim.
While 96 MW Lethang HEP had not been accorded the No Objection Certificate by the National Wildlife Board the other two had obtained environment clearances already. The National Wildlife Board had rejected the project proposal for the Lethang HEP in November, 2010. As for the other two projects they are in the initial stages of acquiring land for the project, it was informed.
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