Govt begin process to reclaim land from Amalgamated Trans Power

SIKKIM ROLEP HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PROJECT (TRANSFER AND VESTING OF LAND) BILL TABLED
GANGTOK, 10 Sept: Power Minister Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, on the first day of the Summer Session of Sikkim Legislative Assembly today, introduced the Sikkim Rolep Hydro Electric Power Project (Transfer and Vesting of Land) Bill.
Minister Lepcha said that the Government and public have felt it necessary to bring a legislation to “claim and utilize the landed property with a view to provide for vesting of land leased to Amalgamated Trans Power (India) Limited in the State Government for allotment, utilization and implementation of 36 MW Rolep Electric Power Project in public interest and for the benefit of the State”.
The Power Minster explains that it has been considered “desirable” to enact a law for reclamation of entire right, title and interest over the land from Amalgamated Trans Power (India) Limited and to utilize the land for implementation of the said project.
The Government of Sikkim in order to set up a Hydro-Electric Power Project through debt financing and implementation of scheme in the state had entered into an agreement with the Amalgamated Trans Power Limited to develop a 36 MW capacity power project in the year 2000.
However, the said power project has remained unimplemented by Amalgamated Trans Power Limited. Sikkim Power Development Corporation (SPDC) Limited had executed a lease of land measuring 10.796 hectares at Rolep block of Chujachen in East Sikkim in favour of Amalgamated Trans Power Limited for implementation of the power project.
The state government had issued a notice of termination for severing all contractual relations with Amalgamated Trans Power Limited; the dispute arising in relation to the termination of the agreement has been referred to arbitration.
In the meantime, the state government and SPDC limited have commenced the process for allotment of aforesaid hydro electric power project, however the execution of implementation agreement is being delayed on account of non-availability of the project land for which lease deed was executed in favour  of Amalgamated Trans Power(Indian) Limited.
The bill will be taken up for discussion and voting on 11 September in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
The Minister Mr Lepcha in the memorandum of delegated legislation states that Clause 7 of the Bill empowers the State government to make rules for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Act.