SAFE, CITIZEN FORUM RAISE VOICES OF CONCERN FOR TEESTA STAGE V

RALEY, August, 09: While simultaneously opposing the Panan hydel project planned in the Dzongu reserve, the members of Citizen Forum and SAFE has raised their voices of concern for the affected families of Teesta Stage V at Dikchu.
During a Jan Sampark Abhiyan organised today at Raley under Rakdong Tintek Constituency, an unanimous resolution was passed to form a steering committee to carry a re-survey in the affected areas.
Thukchuk Lachungpa, President, Citizen Forum was present in the meeting as the chief guest. Also present were Bharat Basnet, Convener, SAFE, KN Upreti, Convener, Citizen Forum, Gyatso Lepcha, President, Concerned Lepchas of Sikkim and a huge congregation of the affected people from Raley, Khamdong, Makha, Dickhu and other areas.
Speaking at the meet, Mr. Lachungpa highly objected the disparities brought by the state government recently in disbursing the relief packages unevenly. “It is the poor people who are genuinely deprived of the real benefits,” he added.
Stating that there is no any hidden political agenda for his voice Mr. Lachungpa also urged the people to come forward with their grievances straightforwardly and fight for their rights.
Making people aware about the environmental hampers caused due to hydel projects he added, “Let us not compromise our future at the cost of environment.” If no such reactions are made presently, Mr Lachungpa felt that a day will come when all the people of Sikkim will hold a second class citizenship and the influx will enjoy all the rights including political rights. He also said that a solution should come from the state government in case of the distribution of the compensatsation.
Bharat Basnet in his part said “It is high time for the people to understand the value of sacrifice made by Dawa and Tenzing who are in a continuous hunger strike for the last 51 days in STNM Hospital.” Stating the hydel project is not a matter for the Lepchas only he said it pertains to each and every individual of Sikkim.
Stating that the consequences of NHPC stage V is reason enough for us to understand what can happen to mother nature, Gyatso Lepcha, President, Concerned Lepchas of Sikkim questioned what might be the repercussion of more than 26 mega hydel projects commissioned in Sikkim.
He further added, “We are not at all ready to compromise with our environment at any cost and the Government should immediately scrap all the projects.”
Earlier, Bhim Prasad Nepal, one of the affected landowners of Teesta Stage V lambasted on the Panchayats and the State Government for not disbursing the compensation in the right earnest. “There is nobody to pay heed to our grievances. Please give us justice,” he said. He also brought into the notice of the people that the project has resulted into the loss of the fertility of the soil as a result of which no fruitful cultivation had taken place in the recent years in the affected areas

(sikkim express)