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Friday, November 18, 2011

Protest grows against Tashiding HEP, area MLA approached

NAMCHI, 17 Nov: The 97 Mega Watt Tashiding Hydroelectric Project being undertaken by Shiga Energy Pvt Ltd below Tashiding under Yangthang constituency in West Sikkim  has attracted the protest of the local people. The public there had demanded that the power project on the Rathong Chu, work on which began around six months back, be immediately stopped. They claim that their demand is based on religious and scientific grounds.
According to sources, SHIGA had started the construction of basic structures in the project area and is now about to start tunnelling works at a spot which, the people there contend, holds religious and sentimental value.
The locals stopped the company from digging at the spot stating that this was a sacred place, arguing that according to their forefathers, ‘Singha Devi’, a deity worshipped by the people there resides there.
It was around a week ago when the people came out in the open to stop tunnelling work at the spot.
The local people formed a committee named ‘Sikkim Bachao Andolan’ to oppose the hydel project. The group claims membership of 100 to 150 households of the area.
A few days ago, the locals also performed a ‘Singha Devi Puja’ at the same spot to underline the religious significance it holds for them. On the other hand, they also claim to have scientific reasons to oppose the project.
The villages of Sakyong, Bhaluthang, Kageythang, Sinrekthang and Omluk are situated right above the project area. Further, this area falls under a sinking zone and locals fear that tunnelling work will further aggravate the fragile nature of the area and may result in cave-ins or natural disasters.
The administration has responded by saying that the locals had already given their No Objection Certificates for the project.
To this, a section of the protestors counter that they gave their support to the project thinking it to be a developmental project brought by the Government and “never realised that it would have such far reaching consequences and the recent earthquake opened their eyes to the disaster that such manmade projects could bring upon them”.
They further said that they were not aware that the same project would defile their sacred shrine as well.
Following the demand to stop the project, seven jeeploads of the protestors called on area MLA, PL Subba, and placed their grievances today. The locals urged the MLA to intervene and stop the project as soon as possible.
The area MLA, in turn, is reported to have stressed that the projects had been brought for the development and betterment of the people of the area, hence they should be more positive about it.
Yak Tshering Bhutia, Chandra Prakash Gurung, Dilip Rai, Dilip Chettri and Mani Kumar Khatiwada were among those present at the meeting. 
DC West, Santa Pradhan, when contacted to comment on the protest, pointed out that the project had started six months back after the completion of all the necessary formalities like the holding of a public hearing.
He further informed that the entire process had been initiated around three years ago and public hearing for the same had also been organised during which the locals had been informed about the project.
The compensation had also been handed over and there had been no complaints from the locals of the area thus far. “Now, certain villagers, who are not even the actual land owners, are opposing this project,” said DC West.
He further said that on 14 November, a group of villagers met him in his office and had submitted a petition which stated their grievances on the project. He had assured them that these grievances would be forwarded to the Government.
The DC West visited the site on 15 November to assess the situation. He further said that this group of villagers are now asking for the hydel power project to be completely scrapped. He appealed and advised them not to create any law and order situation.
When asked about the status of the project, he informed that work is in progress at the site. He said that it was the right of the people to oppose the project but they should do so within the framework of the law.
He further stated that his office was open to their views and suggestions and expressed hope that the people will not create a law and order situation.
“The law will take its own course, nobody is above law; law is above all,” the DC added.
While the locals fear that the project will continue unabated they expressed that they were ready to struggle for their land.

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