Worker killed in hydel project site mishap

DIKCHU, 04 Jan: A 27-year-old resident of Tikjek in West Sikkim, employed with Drillcon Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, a sub-contractor for Sneha Kinetic Pvt Ltd, at the Dikchu hydroelectric project site in Lungchok, North Sikkim, was killed in a worksite accident on 02 January. Indra Bahadur Chettri died on the spot when a boulder crashed down on the site he was working at while 28 year old Bharat Deuva was grievously injured. He is currently undergoing treatment at the Central Referral Hospital in Gangtok. The incident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. on 02 January. The deceased was working in a tunnel on a winch machine at the surge shaft area, it is informed.
[WANGCHUK BHUTIA]

Awareness on health and BOCW Act for labourers at Dikchu

MANGAN, 04 Oct: Workers engaged with the 96 MW Dikchu Hydel Project were briefed on Implementation of Building & Other Construction Workers (RECS) Act 1996 along with other health awareness on HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis in an awareness function held at the power house site of the project on Thursday. The workers engaged with the project developers Sneha Kinetic Power Project Ltd. (SKPPL) and Drillcon Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. along with the company’s officials were in attendance.
Speaking on the special benefits and protection of labour under the Building and Other Construction Welfare (RECS) Act 1996, Joint Commissioner Labour, DS Kunwar highlighted that the registered beneficiaries (labour) will be covered under an insurance policy worth Rs. 1 lakh in case of accidental death and also added that the beneficiaries will get other welfare facilities based on their need like medicine, injury compensation etc.
At the same time, Mr. Kunwar also urged all the workers to be disciplined where he informed that strict punishment would be taken in case anyone is found to be involved in theft or rape cases.
Joint Commissioner Labour, KR Limboo stressed on abolition of child labour and appealed to all the people not to engage child labour whether it is at home or any hotel or construction site. He also informed about the safety measures to be taken at the work site.
Similarly, the representative from District Hospital Mangan delivered tips on health especially on Tuberculosis and other diseases whereas the representative from Sikkim State Aids Control Society, Bhumika Sharma (counselor) informed about HIV/AIDS.
A colourful cultural programme was also staged to entertain the gathering. Earlier, the function was welcomed by Deputy Labour Commissioner, North and concluded with the vote of thanks by GM SKPPL, AK Dutta.

Sneha Kinetic surge shaft pours out a slide

MANGAN, 14 May: The accompanying photograph is not of the one of many ‘natural’ landslides which litter Sikkim’s slopes and hills, but is evidence of a manmade, or rather ‘project-triggered’, slide of excavated muck irresponsibly dumped. This is the under construction 96M W Dikchu Hydro-electric Power project site at surge shaft below Ramthang village in North Sikkim.
Project developer, Sneha Kinetic Power Project, is allowing excavated muck to slither down, snowballing into a major slide, imperiling the village across the Dikchu Khola. The river marks the district boundary and while the work is underway in North Sikkim, villages on the left bank, East Sikkim, have to suffer the risk of shooting stones [due to blasting works], extensive dust [on dry days] and enormous slush when it rains.
The people of Lower Rakdong, 12th Mile, and Raidang villages have been complaining of the unhealthy volumes of fine dust which settles on their homes nowadays and complain that the project developer’s recklessness was even constricting the flow of the river. As the water starts hitting the left bank harder [because of obstructions on the right bank], villages on the left bank are fearing increased scouring below them.
As the villagers watch the much roil away larger slopes and tear down trees, they wonder why the Forest Department is not taking any action, pointing out that even remote villages know that excavated muck needs to be dumped at earmarked locations and cannot be allowed to slip away so irresponsibly.

Joint inspection pins blame on Sneha Kinetic

PROJECT DEVELOPER IGNORED BDO NOTICE TO UNDERTAKE PROTECTIVE MEASURES BEFORE STARTING EXCAVATIONS ABOVE DIKCHU
WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 05 May: DC [North], CP Dhakal, visited the flash-flood hit Dikchu PHC yesterday and assured that if the incident was proven to have been caused by negligence of Dikchu HEP developer Sneha Kinetic, then strict legal action will be initiated against them. The flash flood was triggered when muck from a Dikchu HEP surge shaft tunnel being excavated below Tumin [directly above Dikchu Naya Bazaar] slid off and poured into the Kaluk jhora which broke its banks on Thursday night deposited slush into the PHC compound. Work on the surge shaft excavation has been suspended for now and the project developer directed by the district authorities to depute men and machinery to clear out the muck from the PHC compound.
The Dikchu PHC has lost its power and drinking water to the flood and even the generator has been damaged.
The DC said that this was a matter of serious concern. The DC further assured that necessary priority will be given to the safety of the PHC and the market area.
It is further learned that the project developer had been directed by the Mangan BDO three months back to undertake necessary protection works before beginning excavation of the surge shaft tunnel. BDO Chiran Rizal, when contacted, informed that his office had received no response to its notice from the project developer. The district authorities, it is informed is processing follow-up action on Sneha Kinetic’s non-compliance of the notice issued by the BDO office.
Meanwhile, following a joint inspection of the spot below Tanek, SDM Mangan, PW Lepcha, confirmed that the flash-flood had been triggered due to excavation work on an approach road to the under construction surge shaft tunnel of the 96 MW Dikchu Hydroelectric Project.

SDM inspects Dikchu Hydel Project site

...DIRECTS PROJECT DEVELOPERS TO UNDERTAKE PROTECTIVE MEASURES IMMEDIATELY
DIKCHU, 27 Dec:  Following public complaints against excessive blasting at the 96 MW Dikchu Hydel Project work site here which was damaging houses and private land holdings, SDM Gangtok, Dr AB Karki, inspected the affected area on 26 and 27 December. The Dikchu HEP is being developed by Sneha Kinetic Power Project Ltd
The inspection team also had BB Gurung [Panchayat President], representatives from SKPPL headed by TR Sharma, Sr. Manager HR and other officials, affected people and area youth.
The affected people here had complained that the project developer had not undertaken any protective measures for the houses and lands despite engaging in heavy blasting.  
The SDM inspected all the affected houses which have developed several major and minor cracks due to the blasting works which has also damaged private land holdings at Lower Rakdong, a village situated directly above the project site.
Inspection was also carried out at Chipley Khola area, 12th Mile, Sokpay, Raidang and Dikchu the affected villages which fall under Lower Rakdong ward in East Sikkim.
The SDM directed the project developer to immediately set up protective walls along the entire slide zone before the onset of monsoons so that no further damage is incurred. He further directed the project developer not to dump excavated soil on the slopes.
The project developer has agreed to construct protective walls in the slide zone within two months and an RCC protective wall from Dikchu Bridge to the crusher plant on the left bank of the river.
Apart from this, the affected people also requested for other contract works to be awarded to the affected people whose houses have been damaged and other transport work also to be given to them.
The SDM, while speaking to NOW! later, informed that the administration will also conduct a joint survey engaging the project developer and the state government in order to access the damages.

FLUSHED!

DIKCHU, 12 June: The above photograph is of the Teesta Stage V hydel project reservoir at Dikchu, its bed exposed after it was flushed on Sunday when the silt levels increased beyond the dam’s capacity to manage. It was rare sight for the residents here to see what a free-flowing Teesta looks like when it courses through their town because all they otherwise experience nowadays are the lulling laps of a reservoir. Readers will also be able to spot some locals standing along the boundary wall of the now abandoned Dikchu Secondary School campus above the reservoir and the high bank of the silt deposit. NHPC suspended power generation at the Stage-V for two days due to heavy siltation in the Teesta. Heavy rains and flashfloods in North district inundated the Teesta with silt much higher than the project’s capacity to handle [normally Teesta generates 6,000ppm] of 10000ppm which made the process of ‘flushing’ seen in the photograph above necessary.

Dikchu hydel workers briefed on laws and provided welfare benefits

MANGAN, 24 Feb:  The workers engaged with the 96 MW Dikchu Hydel Project were briefed on Implementation of Building & Other Construction Welfare (RECS) Act 1996 and distribution of Welfare Benefits to  Registered Beneficiary workers in a function held here at powerhouse site at Dikchu today.   The workers are engaged with the project developers Sneha Kinetic Power Project Ltd. (SKPPL) and Drillcon Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. The function was organized by the Labour Department and was chaired by Project Manager, Drillcon Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd, RB Gupta.
The Deputy Commissioner Labour, KR Limboo while delivering his welcome speech highlighted about the welfare of labour and informed that the workers who work continuously for three months or more in a particular establishment may obtain the relevant forms from Labour department for registration of workers and beneficiary after deposition of required fee as per the Rules.   He also informed about the safety measures of the workers at the work site.
Deputy Commissioner Labour, DS Kunwar informed that the contractors have to pay 1% Cess to the department informing that this Cess, notified in September 2010, goes towards funds to be utilized for the welfare of the workers.    He further informed that the registered beneficiaries will be covered with policy of Rs. 1 lakh under personal accident policy in case of accidental death and also informed that the beneficiaries will get other welfare facilities based in their need like medicine, injury compensation etc.
The Deputy Commissioner further stressed on every labourer to know their rights and duties and discipline as well which is very essential.  He urged them to work in coordination amongst themselves and the management further informed about the importance of the registration with the department.  The Deputy Commissioner further informed about the pension scheme for workers after 60 years under this Act and informed that the mandatory age of the workers should in between 18-60 years.  He further informed that workers should be paid double for the over time work as per the norms.
The different queries and doubt raised by the workers were addressed by the Deputy Commissioner and further directed the project developer to coordinate with the workers in case if there is any help to be extended from the management.  
Also on the day, the labourers were provided blankets and hot cases from the department.
The chief guest in his speech informed that awareness is very important for the workers and extended his gratitude to the department for such a fruitful function.
The function was also attended by Manager Civil SKPPL, RK Singh, Project Coordinator, Jigmee Tongden Lepcha, workers and the officials from the department.  The function concluded with the vote of thanks being delivered by Labour Inspector, Tashi Pintso Bhutia.

Appointment letters issued, off-roll employees at Dikchu HEP call off strike

MANGAN, 18 Oct:  The off-roll employees with Sneha Kinetic Power Project Ltd. who went on strike yesterday when the company could not fulfil their three pending demands, returned to work today after the company capitulated and gave in to all the pending demands. The three pending demands sought the issue of appointment letters, salary increment and insurance cover for the employees.

Off-Roll Employees boycott work at Dikchu HEP

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
DIKCHU, 17 Oct:  The off-roll employees at Sneha Kinetic Power Project Ltd., a Hyderabad-based company developing the 96 MW Dikchu Hydroelectric Project, have boycott work following the company’s failure to fulfil their three pending demands.

Meeting resolves to suspend work at Dikchu HEP power house for one week

MANGAN, 13 June: A meeting was held yesterday between Sneha Kinetic Power Project Ltd. SKPPL, the project developer of the 96MW Dikchu Hydel Project, Drillcon Infrastructure, a subsidiary of SKPPL, the Project Implementation Committee, executive members from the Dikchu branch of the All Sikkim Democratic Labour Front and workers here at the project office. The meeting was convened by the Project Implementation Committee to sort out differences between the labourers complaining of unsafe working conditions and the management. 
Chung Chung Tongden Lepcha of the PIC highlighted that unless there was better coordination between the project developer and the workers, the project will not progress and urged for a mutual understanding to be arrived at between the two parties.

Dikchu roils in unkind power-cuts on the banks of mega hydel project

Outside the SBI branch at Dikchu waiting for the power to come back and allow their bank accounts to be used.

DIKCHU, 12 June: Irregular power supply on the banks of the 510 MW Teesta Stage V dam-site at Dickhu and parts of Lower Dzongu continues to frustrate residents here. The problem is not new and this rubs even more salt into the hurt of the people here who have to watch the project site all lit up every night but themselves suffer through extensive power cuts.
The past month has been especially bad, so much so that the overworked generator at the State Bank of India’s Dikchu branch having collapsed, leaving customers with important work with the bank, unserviced. 
“I have been coming here for the past three days to withdraw cash from the bank and have been turned away because the bank’s computers are not working because of the extended power cut,” said an irate resident of Lower Dzongu who finds it hard to believe that the power supply situation is so bad that he cannot even withdraw his own money.

Labour Deptt and Project Implementation Committee teams visit Dikchu HEP, take stock of working conditions

DIKCHU, 09 June: A team of officials from the Labour Department’s North district office and later, the Project Implementation Committee members were at the 96MW Dikchu Hydel Project site yesterday to take stock of the working conditions there. The 08 June edition of this paper, it may be recalled, had reported on the dangerous conditions under which labourers at the power-house site were being made to work under.
The team from the Labour Department, headed by Deputy Commissioner, KR Limboo, also checked on the welfare activities initiated by the company. They reminded the project developer and its contractual companies of the prohibition order directing that all tunnel-related works be suspended till a bridge was constructed to carr workers across the Dikchu khola.

Labourers protest hazardous working conditions at Dikchu HEP

WORKERS ABANDON WORK, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE CONVINCES THEM TO RETURN

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 07 June: The accompanying picture of a labourer crossing the Dikchu khola to reach the tail race tunnel worksite on the far bank illustrates the hydel commitment to worker safety. This treacherous river crossing has to be made swinging from a flimsy wrought-iron contraption which does not even have a door which closes properly. A 12 mm iron wire is all that keeps the workers away from the ferocious rapid below and there does not appear to be any arrangement for a security harness as protection against a mishap. This has been how work has progressed here since the makeshift bridge across the khola was washed away on 01 May earlier last month.
This is the situation at the power-house site of the 96MW Dikchu Hydel Power Project. Frustrated with the management’s disinterest in worker safety, labourers engaged at the site by Drillcon Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Sneha Kinetic Power Project [the project developer], abandoned work today.
Interestingly, the Ward Panchayat BB Gurung and members of the Project Implementation Committee arrived at the spot and resolved the matter, convincing the workers to “bear with the company till a new bailey bridge was constructed”.

Flashflood washes away equipment worth Rs. 1.50 crore from Dikchu HEP site

VILLAGER SPENDS NIGHT TRAPPED BETWEEN HIGH CLIFFS AND RAGING DIKCHU KHOLA
WANGCHUK BHUTIA
DIKCHU, 02 May: Equipment worth Rs. 1.50 crore was washed away from a hydel project site on the Dikchu khola here on Sunday when the hill stream broke its banks following heavy rainfall in its catchment area on the higher reaches. Water level at Dikchu khola [which starts from the confluence of Baghca and Ratey Chu higher up] surged late in the afternoon and washed away the temporary bridge thrown across it to the Dickhu Hydro-Electric Project site. It started raining at around 3 p.m., and was at its most destructive at 6 p.m. Apart from the washed away bridge, the raging river also swept away equipment from the site and trapped one person on the far bank. He was rescued from his predicament early Monday morning.
Nar Bahadur Pradhan of Lower Rakdong was stranded to the far bank of the river on the northern side all of last night after the bridge was washed away at around 6 in the evening.
AS word spread of Dikchu khola in spate, people who rushed to the spot witnessed heavy equipment being carried away by the khola, which this morning, after the flood waters had subsided, appeared misleadingly tame. Only the wreckage of a truck, stuck in the shallow waters, standing evidence of the fury with which the stream had broken out last evening.
As for Nar Bahadur Pradhan, who had crossed over to collect fodder for his cattle, he was struck throughout the night with a sheer cliff behind him and a raging Dikchu khola in front. There was no alternate escape for him, and after the waters had subsided a bit towards nightfall, his relatives and fellow villagers used ropes to reach him some refreshments.