State Board for Wildlife clears 14 of 17 proposals

B.R.O. PROPOSALS DEFERRED BECAUSE NO REPRESENTATIVES TURNED UP; WILDLIFE CLEARANCE ISSUED FOR TEESTA STAGE-IV

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 19 June: The 15th meeting of the State Board for Wildlife was organized by Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department today here at Chintan Bhawan. The meeting, chaired by the Forest Minister who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Board, discussed various issues related to the management of forest, wildlife and geographical habitat in coordination with the various stake holders. The meeting also discussed 17 proposals seeking the Board’s clearance, three of which were deferred.
The three proposals deferred for later are- proposal for up-gradation of road at Kupup Tri-junction inside Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim; up-gradation of road at PT 4122 inside Kyongnosla Alpine Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim and the proposal to ban sale of wild Avocado, small bamboo shoots and snake plants in the market.
The first two proposals were not taken up because the Border Roads Organisation, which is seeking the clearance, was not represented at the meeting today. The house did not take this absenteeism too well and saw it as a disrespect of the Board.
Regarding the last proposal, it was informed that the department will first conduct a survey and collect the report and only then take a decision regarding this agenda.
Among the more significant proposals cleared today was the for the one seeking wildlife clearance for the 520 MW Teesta Stage-IV Hydroelectric Power Project , under the Mangan and Dzongu forest range in North District by NHPC Limited. The Board has also stipulated a list of conditions in this regard. This project requires the diversion of 143.4928 hectares of forest land. Clearance for this project was complicated by the Supreme Court directive [of 04 Dec 2006] to the Central and all State Governments that a 10 km radius [as a crow flies] around protected areas be declared Eco-Sensitive Zones. The project comes with a 10 km radius of the Khangchendzonga National Park. The proposal of the State Government to limit this expanse to 500 metres was returned by the GoI for want of more details on land use pattern in the proposed Eco-Sensitive Zone which, it was informed, is being processed.
Also cleared today was a proposal to sensitize the defence forces stationed in high altitude areas with wildlife educational and environmental awareness and protection programmes and revival of Gyamtsona, a brackish water lake in the North Sikkim Cold Desert, which has dried due to human interference.
Taking up the matter of around 30 permanent fixtures [sheds and nursery workers] at the Pangthang/ Lingdok forest area inside the Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, the Board decided in favour of translocation and directed that alternate construction sites and housing assistance by the State Government be considered.
The meeting also discussed and cleared proposals for the construction of road 1st to 18th kms in length from Sopakha village to Chewabhanjyang via Jorbotay in West Sikkim by the Roads and Bridges Department for connecting the police and SSB Out posts at Chewabhanjyang, amongst others.
The meeting  was attended by Minister Forests Bhim Dhungel, Minister Agriculture DN Thakarpa, MLA Tulsi Devi Rai, PCCF Cum CWLW, Anil Mainra, CCF Wildlife Pradeep Kumar, IFS Conservator of Forest[WL] Gut Lepcha, Commandant SSB, IFS PCCF[JICA]Thomas Chandy, Secretary RMDD, GOC 17 MTN Division Member, SBWL and officials from various other departments were present today.
The meeting started with a welcome address by the PCCF Cum CWLW, Member Secretary Anil Mainra wherein he informed the meeting about the clearance accorded by the standing committee of National Board of Wildlife for investigation and survey for the preparation of DPR by User Agency for the Bhaley Dhunga Sky Walk Project.
The meeting was also addressed by the Forest Minister, Bhim Dhungel while CCF Wildlife, Pradeep Kumar proposed the vote of thanks.
While addressing from the chair, the Forest Minister said that Sikkim stands out as the “smallest but biologically most diverse Himalayan State in the country with both rich and varied wildlife”. He expressed hope that the people become more conservation conscious and refrain from destruction of even the smallest wildlife or its habitat.  He informed the members that the field of wildlife conservation, Sikkim, “against all odds, is the best covered in the wildlife protected areas among other states in country”.
Mr. Dhungel urged the members to go through the various wildlife issues included in the agenda today and suggested that the Board serve “as a vehicle to advise the state government on the ways and means of promoting wildlife conservation and development.”