Power Developers Violating Sikkim Land Acquisition rules :ACT

Blatant violations of Land Acquisition Act by Power Developers in Sikkim
Gangtok, August 3: Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) accused the state government and Panang 280 MW power developer for cheating and misleading the common people while acquisition of land was completely illegal from the point of view of the land acquisition laws, company acts and rules, Dawa Lepcha, general Secretary of ACT said in a press release.
The release said that Himagiri Hydro Energy Pvt. Limited being a private limited company (with only three share holders, that too a family) cannot request the government to acquire lands other than those needed specifically for labour colonies and related amenities. In other words, lands needed for setting up of other parts of the projects cannot be acquired by the government for the said company. Since the entire lands needed by the company for Panang Project, has been acquired by the government on behalf of the said company, clear violation of the Section 44B of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, has taken place among others. Section 44B prohibits such action and proceedings the release reads.
The acquiring of lands identified for colony in Lingzya near the proposed dam site is also in violation of the “Specific Condition” of the clearance letter of MOEF. When there was specific condition that no labor or staff colony will be allowed inside Dzongu, there was no need to acquire the lands that were identified for setting up of labor colony, Lepcha said.
Act further claimed that the lands are being acquired for “Public Purpose” are in direct conflict with the acquisition laws, as not a single paise has been paid for compensation from the public revenue, which is mandatory for the acquisition to qualify as public purpose. The law clearly states that in case of acquisition for public purpose, whole or a part of compensation has to be paid or contributed from public revenue. The release further said that the 26 percent of equity share that is projected is not part of the compensation.
But in the case of Panang project & Teesta Stage III and many others the entire compensation has been paid by the companies with out a single paise contribution from public revenue. Hence these lands cannot be said to have been acquired for public purpose. This is a blatant violation of the Part VII of Land Acquisition Act, 1894, especially in the case of Himagiri Hydro Energy Private Limited. The laws and rules are being neglected and mocked by the mighty authorities, ACT said.
Subsequently, ACT has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Secretary N D Chingapa to look into the matter and that rectification done before the September 21, next month, after which ACT will place the matter in front of the highest court of judiciary.
On other front it was decided in a Executive Body meeting on 02/08/09 that ACT will form a separate grievance cell to look into the R&R implementation and the exploitation of the project affected people (PAP) and the environment of those areas where the project work have started, especially in the case of Teesta Stage III headed by ACT Chief Co-ordinator Tseten Lepcha.
(Sikkim Express)

PUBLIC HEARING ON 96 MW DIKCHU HYDEL PROJECT HELD IN NORTH SIKKIM

Affected families want total safeguard of local interests

GANGTOK, November 16: The public hearing for the 96 megawatt Hydel Power Project at River Dikchu was held today at Dikchu Bazaar.
Organized by the State Pollution Control Board, Forest and Wildlife Department the hearing was attended by all project affected families and the landowners from Lingdok and Dikchu.
M/s Sneha Kinetic Power Project limited, a Hyderbad based company has proposed to construct a 96 MW Hydroelectric Project by utilizing the water of River Dikchu, a tributary of Teesta River in East Sikkim.
Placing the technical details, the Managing Director of Sneha Kinetic Power Project Limited Raghunathan Reddy informed that the hydel project would have an installed capacity of 99 MW at the cost of Rs. 49 Crore
He added that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environment Management Assessment (EMA) have been drafted keeping in view the environmental, cultural, and traditional conservation. He also informed that as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the State Government, the local people will be employed in the project and also given ample opportunities. Mr. Raghunathan also assured that all the contractual works would be given to the local youths only. “We commit to bring more infrastructure development such as schools, roads, community centers in Dikchu, he added.
However, after acquiring the land for the said project, a total of 75 families will be affected, it is learnt.
Queries were also raised by the affected landowners during the interactive session of the meet.
An affected landowner from Lingdok, Vishnu Neopaney said that more than four hundred species of medicinal plants would be uprooted with the implementation of the said project. He also added that Dharma tam, a cave of historical importance where Thekong Tek and Neykong Nyal after signing the brotherhood treaty stayed will be submerged into the water.
Stating that the State government and the company have signed a MoU for the generation of only 54 MW electricity earlier, Mr. Neopaney has questioned about the remaining 42 MW, which would total up to the present figure of 99 MW. He further questioned about the non-amendment of the MoU after the increase in the power generation.
Responding to Mr. Neopaney’s query, the concerned officials informed that a detailed survey has been carried out before preparing the EIA and it has been made clear that none of the biodiversities gets affected with the commissioning of the hydel project.
Nar Bahadhur Pradhan of 12th Mile, Lower Lingdok also placed a demand to the company stressing that only the public of Lingdok Namphong Block should be given site to run businesses near the project site. He also said the company should pay a compensation of Rs 50 per square feet for the acquired land. All the laborers from outside Sikkim after the completion of the project should go out of Sikkim, he demanded. He also demanded for the preservation of the religious, social, cultural aspects of the people and their place.
It was also demanded that the chairman of the contractors’ association, which will be involved in the said project should be nominated and appointed amongst the affected families.
The President of Dikchu Youth Welfare Association, Chung Chung Bhutia emphasized on the point that the supply and the transportation works should be given to the unemployed youth of Dikchu. He also demanded to include one of the members of Dikchu Youth Welfare Association in the Steering Committee formed for the project.
The public hearing for the People of North District for the concerned Project will be held on November 17 at Phodong.
The area MLA Norzang Lepcha, MLA Kabi Tingda TT Bhutia along with Chairman State Pollution Control Board CC Sangderpa also attended the public hearing. Also present were the officials from various government departments.

Arunachal Pradesh to pitch for equity in hydro power projects

The state has bet big on hydro power development in the region and has attracted private players

The government of Arunachal Pradesh is discussing with financial institutions ways in which it can acquire equity stakes in hydroelectric power projects being developed by Central public sector units in the state.
“We plan to either convert the 12% (of the generated power) free power that has been given to us into an equity share or put in our own money into the projects. We are presently in discussions with the financial institutions to work out a strategy about which of these options are more beneficial to us,” said T. Norbu, Arunachal Pradesh power secretary.
Free power is given to states where such projects are based, because these projects entail large-scale relief and rehabilitation efforts and costs to the local environment.
The quantum of free power given to the states may be increased following demands by Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim for the same, as reported by Mint on 12 June.
“It (Arunachal thinking of an equity stake in projects based in the state) is a good thing and will help the state government get a sense of ownership. If the state puts in its own money, the contribution from the developer (PSU) will come down which in turn will help it (the state) to earn more from the project. Having an equity stake in the project will also allow the state to leverage things in terms of employment among others to its advantage,” said K. Ramanathan, distinguished fellow at The Energy and Research Institute.
Some of the big ticket hydro projects being developed in the state include NTPC Ltd’s Etalin (4,000MW), and Attunli (500MW), National Hydroelectric Power Corp. Ltd., or NHPC’s 4,500MW one and North-Eastern Electric Power Corp.’s 1,230MW project.
“The percentage of our stake in the projects will depend on our ability to take such stakes which in turn will depend on our financial health,” said a senior official in the state government who did not wish to be identified.
The state’s gross fiscal deficit is 12% taken as an average over 2001-04.
The total hydropower generation potential of India’s North-Eastern states, and Bhutan, is about 58,000MW. Of this Arunachal Pradesh alone accounts for 50,328MW, the highest in India.
The state has bet big on the hydro power development in the region and has attracted a lot of private sector developers.
At present, India has an installed power-generation capacity of 130,000 MW, of which around 32,325.77MW is generated through hydroelectric power projects.
The 11th Plan (2007-12) has projected that the country will add 78,577MW of power generation capacity, of which around 16,000MW is expected to come from hydroelectric power projects.

National Tribal leader on Dzongu recce

Gangtok, Oct. 7: The president of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, Somjibhai Damor, will arrive in Sikkim on Tuesday for a first-hand idea of the on-going Lepcha agitation against hydel power projects at Dzongu in North Sikkim.
“He will first go to Gangtok and then to Dzongu,” said Dorjee Lepcha, the president of Rong-Ong-Prongzum (Lepcha Youth Association).
The visit follows a presentation on Dzongu made by L.S. Tamsang, the president of Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, at the 14th National Conference of the All India Tribal Development Council in Jaipur, Rajasthan earlier this month.

Peace rally to protest mega hydel power projects in Sikkim

Sikkim Lepcha Organisations adopts "Gandhigiri" in Gangtok by Protesting With Gandhi Portray

Gangtok, Oct 2 : Police today detained many monks and youth of the Lepcha community when they attempted to take out a peace procession towards Gandhi statue to focus their plight in Sikkim.About 100 monks and Lepcha youths under the banner of Sangha of Dzongu (SOD) and Concerned Lepchas of Sikkim (CLOS) carrying a portrait of the Father of Nation took out a with banners, prayer flags along with the tri-colour to protest proposed erection of dams and setting up power projects in tribal north Sikkim.

Along with the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), both the organisations have been spearheading a Satyagraha against the proposed implementation of mega hydel power projects in north district. As their relay hunger strike entered its 104th day today, the rallyists were proceeding to offer floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi's statue at M G Marg here.
The detention came after the rallyists defied an order to remove the banners and stopped slogans, except the national flag, before proceeding towards the statue.

Police detained about 25 people, including monks and later allowed the remaining people in groups to offer their tributes to the Mahatma sans banners and posters.
East Sikkim Superintendent of Police (SP) M S Tuli said the procession did not take any permission as required under Section 30 A of the Police Act.

Mr Tuli said the leaders of the rally would be detained 151 Cr Pc to prevent further trouble while the others would be released.

Meanwhile, a state-level function to tribute Mahatma Gandhi was also organised at the same place.

Lepchas Plans Joint action against Dzongu hydel plants

Kalimpong, Oct. 1: Lepcha organisations from the Darjeeling hills and Sikkim have come together to form a Joint Action Committee (JAC) to intensify their on-going agitation demanding that all hydel power projects proposed for the Lepcha reserve of Dzongu be scrapped.
The JAC will be headed by L.S. Tamsang, the president of the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (ILTA) and comprises members of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), Concerned Lepchas of Sikkim and the Rong-Ong-Prongzum (Lepcha Youth Association), besides other Lepcha associations.
Tamsang will be assisted by ACT’s Dawa Lepcha as secretary and four vice-presidents — Athup Lepcha (ACT president), Dorjee Lepcha (Prongzum president), S.M. Lepcha (chief adviser to ILTA) and Nima Thsering Lepcha.
Dorjee later told that the decision to form the JAC was taken as the on-going Dzongu agitation was not creating the desired impact. “With the formation of the JAC, we hope to coordinate our agitation better,” he said.
The JAC will start off with a procession from 10th Mile to Damber Chowk here on October 6. “We will invite members of other communities to be part of the rally. From October 6 we will also be holding regular public meetings,” said the Prongzum president.
Tamsang is away in Jaipur, Rajasthan, attending a conference. Tomorrow, he will meet the chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Kunwar Singh, in New Delhi.
ACT members — who have been spearheading the protest in Sikkim — expressed happiness at the formation of the JAC. “It is a welcome move. Henceforth, the JAC will be able to coordinate between the Darjeeling hills and Sikkim and organise programmes more effectively,” said Tseten Lepcha, the chief coordinator of ACT

Stabbing the mountains

In May 2003, the Centre launched the 50,000 MW hydroelectric initiative as a step forward to tap the near 78 per cent unutilised hydropower potentials in the country. In all 162 new hydroelectric projects across 16 Indian states were proposed and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation was identified as the nodal agency for execution. The North-east topped the list with 76 hydroelectric projects proposed across Sikkim, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, which on completion would alone generate 31,885 MW power. The ten projects proposed in Sikkim, as estimated, would yield 1,469 MW energy. All these projects were envisaged in the river Teesta and its tributaries. The Teesta, with a 7,755 square km catchment area, traverses a 414 km distance cutting across Sikkim, parts of Darjeeling hills and the plains of Jalpaiguri before submerging into the mighty Brahmaputra in Bangladesh. Four years down the line, now in 2007, of the ten proposed hydroelectric projects, the Teesta stage-V is near completion, Teesta stage-IV is under survey and investigation, while another five projects in north Sikkim have been stalled due to agitation by the ethnic Lepcha community. Two other hydroelectric projects in the Teesta basin, located in Darjeeling district bordering Sikkim - the Teesta Low Dam Project-III & IV - are under construction. Both the TLDP III & IV are coming up alongside National Highway 31A that connects Sikkim with the rest of the country, via Siliguri. As is the case with big hydropower projects elsewhere in the country, conservationists had vehemently opposed the river taming projects in the Teesta. They demanded scrapping of the TLDP III & IV at the very conceptual stage, arguing that the hydropower projects would result in large-scale damage to the natural environment and would put an adverse impact on the lives of surrounding habitants. However, giving a damn to the environmental concerns and twisting the rules and norms, the NHPC ultimately managed to get the go-ahead signal from the Union ministry of environment and forests. As was apprehended by conservationists, construction of the two hydropower projects, coupled with other factors, have now started taking their toll on the overall natural environment, both in Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills. Landslips and landslides in the region, this time around, have shot up to a worrisome high. Residents and environmentalists say that after 1950 the situation has degraded to an all time worst both in terms of frequency and devastation caused by the landslides. The magnitude of the landslides is such that in August-September alone, the Sikkim lifeline NH 31A was closed for over 15 days. The 92 km highway has degraded to such a miserable state at Kalijhora and Rambhi (TLDP project sites) that the arterial road might simply get eliminated in the near future. Given the context, there is a need to take a re-look at the 50,000 MW hydroelectric initiative that facilitated an intensified river taming activity in the country. Rectification of the 3:97 adverse hydro-thermal power ratio and taking it to the ideal 40:60 contribution was laid down as the prime motivator for the 50,000 MW initiative launched in 2003. The major thrust was put on exploitation of the abundant and commercially viable (sic) hydropower potentials in the eight north-eastern states. And here comes to fore the typical colonial approach to development, wherein the powers-that-be try to impose everything from above. On most of the occasions developmental needs are identified within a prejudiced and biased framework. In a larger context, it is the inherent malady of the development philosophy across Third World nations. Instead of taking a customised approach, as the diverse natural and social settings demand, developmental plans are often adopted as a uniform replica. Thus, we plan Delhi-like high-rise shopping malls in the Darjeeling hills and want to drive Mercedes to the Everest! Irrespective of the actual need and suitability, big dams, flyovers and expressways et al have emerged as the key indicators of “development” in our times. The decision to tap the huge hydropower potentials of the North-east, was based on the consideration of commercial viability, and bypassed the vital aspect of environmental and social affordability of such exploitation. Like, while envisaging the Teesta basin hydroelectric projects, it was plain overlooked that the soil in Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills primarily consisting of gneissose and half-schistose rocks, is coarse and shallow in nature and simply cannot withstand big hydropower projects. A large portion of the Sikkim territory is covered by the precambian rock and is much younger in age than the hills. The rock consists of phyllites and schists and therefore turns the slopes vulnerable to weathering and is very prone to erosion. Excessive rainfall, which is a common feature in the region, further intensifies the erosion and causes heavy loss of soil nutrients through leaching. This makes the hills very fragile and vulnerable to even a little disturbance. Again, the Teesta river basin falls under zone IV of the Indo-Myanmar seismic map and often experiences tremors of low to moderate intensity. Between 1897 and 1990, a total of eight earthquakes measuring 6 to 7.6 on the Richter Scale was recorded near the TLDP project sites in the Teesta. From its origination point in lake Chho Lhamu, at an altitude of 5,488 metres in the Himalayas, the Teesta emerges as a snout from the Zemu glacier located above the Lachen Gompha. It is a rain and snow-fed river. About 158.40 square km area of the river basin remains permanently covered with snow. During a 1999 study, the International Commission for Snow and Ice found the glaciers in the Himalayas receding faster than in any other part of the world and at present rates, are likely to disappear by 2035. High-altitude lakes formed by the glacial avalanching are potentially dangerous. Moraine dams (created by debris accumulated by glacial action on mountain slopes and valley floors), which hold back these waters are comparatively unstable and a sudden breach can lead to the discharge of huge volumes of water and debris, which would eventually result in devastation in the downstream. A 2002 report by the Geological Survey of India, Kolkata branch, made the case against the Teesta hydroelectric projects further strong. It specifically warned that “A number of active and dormant landslides are present within the project area due partly to anthropogenic activities and partly to adverse geological condition/slope morphology... further destabilisation of already vulnerable slopes cannot be ruled out. Proposed constructional activities may also cause landslides. “Though NH 31A will be at a much higher elevation of the FRL of Stage IV dam, but in those stretches where mud-stone and clay-stone will come into contact with the reservoir water, stability of the existing road bench may become vulnerable.” The expert warnings could not deter the decision makers who put commercial considerations first. Nor did they think that with its dense forest cover and rich biodiversity, the Teesta river basin hosts one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world and any hindrance in the natural flow of the turbulent river would eventually invite disaster on the surrounding habitants. Thus, keeping in tune with the national hydropower policy of India, the Union ministry of environment and forests gave its nod to the TLDP projects in 2003-04. West Bengal, in whose territory the TLDP III & IV are coming up, was happy to ink a deal that facilitates 12 per cent power share for the state free of cost and other related benefits. The cumulative result: the over 5.40 lakh population in Sikkim and the near half a lakh in Kalimpong sub-division (as per the 2001 census) in Darjeeling district, every now and then suffer the risk of getting cut off from the rest of the country. Carrying forward the devastating march, the NHPC is now all set to build another five hydroelectric projects in the Teesta at Dzongu in north Sikkim. The government of Sikkim is trying to “convince” the Lepcha community which has stalled the proposed projects by virtue of its indefinite fast. It is being touted that “the hydropower projects would usher in social and economic prosperity in Sikkim”. The fact is, just like the failed battle against the TLDP III & IV projects in West Bengal, concerns against the hydropower projects proposed at Dzongu have got more than enough scientific and logical footings. In 2001-2006, the Centre for Inter-disciplinary Studies of Mountain & Hill Environment, University of Delhi, conducted a study on the carrying capacity of the Teesta basin in Sikkim. The key findings of the study (pages 161-220) read: “Physiographic studies show that the valleys in the northern parts of Teesta basin are asymmetrical which indicate instability and proneness of slopes to sliding… Glacial moraines, mostly confined to north Sikkim, along with numerous active landslides in the region, indicate that this locale represents a fragile ecosystem… During the formation of Darjeeling-Kalimpong or the Sikkim Himalayan ranges, intense folding, faulting and thrust movements have taken place. These tectonic features act as trigger points for catastrophic manifestations of the natural dynamic forces resulting in earthquakes and landslides. These events represent serious geological hazards and make the region highly fragile - and sensitive to any disturbance.” The report specifically cautions: “The thick moraine deposits at several sites in north Sikkim provide weak substrates on which it seems very unsafe to establish any mega developmental project.” For the time being, the Lepchas of Sikkim have become successful in stalling the hydroelectric projects at Dzongu. However, only time will tell whether they ultimately succeed in getting the projects scrapped or succumb like the activists who had risen against the TLDP projects in West Bengal. For, fighting an all-powerful state is not an easy task, more so is to battle its mindset.

(The author is on the staff of The Statesman, Siliguri)

Satyagraha For The Teesta

Protestors from across Sikkim are on hunger strike against projects on the river. NEERAJ VAGHOLIKAR reports

The Sikkim government’s plans to expedite a major plumbing exercise — involving 26 large hydroelectric projects in the ecologically and culturally sensitive Teesta river basin — is meeting with resistance. Protestors have joined together in an organisation called the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT); they have been on satyagraha against these plans since June 20. The ongoing protests are focused on projects proposed in North Sikkim, particularly in Dzongu, the holy land and exclusive reserve of the Lepcha tribe. The satyagraha has been characterised by a prominent youth presence; another important feature was the support lent by the state’s Buddhist monks, who have been offering prayers to protect the satyagrahis and the sacred landscape threatened with desecration.
While Sikkim has seen dam-related protests before, there have never been any on this scale. The 1990s saw the construction of the 60MW Rangit project, clearances for the 510MW Teesta V project (currently under construction) and the scrapping of the Rathong Chu project following protests about its impact on a sacred landscape. But in the last three years, the state government has signed MOUs for no less than 26 large hydroelectric projects in the state.
On December 12, 2006, ACT met Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. They demanded the scrapping of the projects in Dzongu, and sought a review of the other projects in Sikkim. Based on an assurance from the CM that these issues would be looked into, they called off a proposed rally in Gangtok. But ACT’s concerns were not addressed and in the months preceding the satyagraha, the state government started land acquisition procedures for the 1200MW Teesta III and the 280MW Panan projects, both of which involve construction work inside Dzongu. This was the last straw and ACT started its satyagraha on June 20, with 34-year-old Dawa Lepcha and 20- year-old Tenzing Lepcha on an indefinite fast, while others supported them with a relay hunger strike.
The arguments used to justify these large projects in Sikkim are: exploitation of the state’s perennial water system to produce power for the nation; economic benefits to the state through power export; employment generation and low displacement of local communities. However, several unique features of the state — its ecological and geological fragility, its indigenous communities, their cultural and spiritual association with the river system and the landscape — pose a challenge to these ambitious plans.
The erstwhile kings of Sikkim had accorded special legal protection to Dzongu and North Sikkim, further reinforced after the merger with India through constitutional protection of old laws and traditions. “The spurt of large hydel projects in Sikkim is in direct contradiction of the constitutional and legal protection given to us. The simultaneous construction of so many projects is going to involve an influx of a huge number of outside labour for a long period of time. These demographic changes are going to have a serious socio cultural impact, particularly in North Sikkim. We want the seven proposed projects in Dzongu scrapped and others in Sikkim reviewed,” says Dawa Lepcha of ACT.The ministry of Environment & Forests (MOEF), while granting environmental clearance to the 510MW Teesta V project in 1999 asked for a detailed ‘carrying capacity’ study of the entire Teesta river basin. The clearance letter states: “No other project in Sikkim will be considered for environmental clearance till the carrying capacity study is completed.”Pemzang Tenzing, a civil engineer and ACT member, says: “We were hopeful that this process would enable a comprehensive assessment of the cumulative impact of the many proposed hydel projects and a serious options assessment for ecologically and culturally sensitive development in Sikkim. But even as the study is being finalised, the MOEF has already granted environmental clearance to at least six hydel projects in Sikkim since 2004 in violation of its own condition.” At least two of these — the 1,200 MW Teesta III and the 280 MW Panan — are on the border of the Khangchendzonga National Park. A large part of the first is, in fact, inside the biosphere reserve and the second involves carrying out ancillary works inside the national park in violation of Supreme Court orders.
Tenzing adds, “Even as per official figures, the projects involve diverting up to 85-90 percent of the river flow in the lean season through long tunnels before the water is dropped downstream. Not only will this destroy the riverine ecology but a cascade of projects will mean the Teesta is in full flow only in brief stretches between the two hydel projects. That is why we are saying that the Teesta is being converted into an underground river.”
There have been repeated appeals from the state government to withdraw the satyagraha and at least six rounds of talks were held between the government and ACT, but none led to a conclusive breakthrough. After a personal appeal from the CM, Dawa and Tenzing withdrew their indefinite fast on August 21 after 63 days, but the satyagraha continues with the relay hunger strike by other members.On September 6, the government informed ACT that a seven-member review committee is being set up to “examine various issues related to implementation of hydel projects in Dzongu area of North Sikkim” and that until the submission of a report by the committee within 100 days all activities related to five projects in Dzongu would be stopped with immediate effect. The government has conveniently left out two major projects directly impacting Dzongu — TeestaIII & Teesta IV. While it has chosen to leave out Teesta III where land acquisition procedures have been on, four of the five projects it claims to stop work on are yet to get necessary clearances to start work. On September 10, ACT rejected this proposition and renewed the demand for scrapping all hydel projects in Dzongu.
During this entire period there has been tremendous support to the satyagrahis from around the country and the world. The Lepchas in the Darjeeling hills have also lent their support to the cause, with a road blockade of NH31A as well as ongoing relay hunger strikes in Kalimpong and Darjeeling. Opposition parties have also taken up the issue, but this has been conveniently used by the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front government to dismiss the entire protest as being “politically motivated”. In a speech on Independence Day, the CM made personal attacks on several individuals associated with the protests, including respected Buddhist monk Sonam Paljor Denjongpa. The attack was condemned even by those who support the hydel projects.
Sikkim’s Information and Public Relations secretary MG Kiran says: “We do not yet know what their (ACT’s) problem is. These are benign projects and we can handle them well.” It is ironic that just a few months ago, the state Chief Secretary admitted to an environmental governance crisis in the 510MW Teesta V project in an affidavit to the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee. The affidavit says the power company has “grossly violated the terms, conditions and guidelines” of the MOEF and dumped excavated material “into the river Teesta obstructing its free flow causing thereby huge damage to the forest and environment.”

SAFE on Carrying Capacity Study of Teesta Basin

GANGTOK, September 03: The Sikkimese Association for Environment (SAFE) in an attempt to raise public awareness has brought out factual extracts from the “Carrying Capacity Study of Teesta Basin”.
A press release issued by Chukie Tobden of SAFE has stated that the purpose of these extracts is to educate and sensitize the public to the realities of fast degradation of the natural environment by the “ill-conceived Hydel projects in North Sikkim.”
The Executive summary of the report and recommendations as mentioned in the release were commissioned by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India and sponsored by NHPC Corporation Limited, Faridabad.
Stressing that SAFE has been repeatedly accused of being ‘anti-development’ with ‘vested interest’ targets, SAFE has considered it as “a privilege to bring the report to the public”, further stressing that SAFE like advocating transparency.
SAFE has produced at least six extracts from the study, particularly on the environmental, seismic and biodiversity concerns.
The extract from page 173 of the report has these details: “Looking at the number of species of studied taxa and the endemic exclusive and endangered species of studied taxa, Zone III is very sensitive and if the development project (Teesta Stage III) is executed in this zone…irreversible ecological damage is expected with respect to its biological environs.”
“Entirely alien environmental conditions would be created by human activity during and after the construction of the proposed hydel project,” reads another extract culled from Page 202.
The Page 203 extract reads “The proposed project falls in a seismic zone. An earthquake of the magnitude of 6.0 Richter scale recorded on November, 19, 1980. Importantly the epicenter lies on the surface trace of Gangtok lineament and this project area also lies along this lineament.”
As per the details in Page 208, “the project is situated in one of the most ecologically sensitive area of Sikkim. The geologically sensitivity of the catchments is characterized by huge deposits of moraines in the catchments upstream. Some of the glacial lakes have the history of being blocked by the debris resulting in the formations of temporary lakes which upon bursting are known to bring this material downstream. All these lakes are potential source of hazard generation. Any activity resulting in displacement of accumulated debris would have disastrous consequence downstream. The Glacial outburst flood can create havoc in downstream area endangering the structures and habitations.”
The association has also brought out to the notice of the public as detailed in Page 214 that more than 100 species of mammals, 8 species of cats, 230 species of birds, 345 species of butterflies, 10 species of amphibian and 34 reptile species are found within the vicinity of the power project.
SAFE has also culled another extract from Page XXVI, which reads, “Inspite of this, the Government of Sikkim was accorded letter of intent to various Central Government undertakings and Private Power Producers to start the process of building these projects and as such it has become imperative that some urgent measures are adopted before these destructive “Development Projects” are permitted to be implemented and once again the saga of exploitation is repeated

(Sikkim Express)

Home Coming Images Of Dawa & Tenzing

Dawa Lepcha and Tenzing Gyatso Lepcha visiting their home in Dzongu for the first time on August30, 2007 after withdrawing from a historic 63 days hunger strike .

photo credits: WeepingSikkim Blog

Weekend Reading

Himal Magazine Cover feature
Lepcha v hydropower
Do Gangtok and New Delhi policymakers view the Lepcha ancestral homeland as sacrosanct or not? The answer cannot be both.

By : Soumik Dutta

Sikkim has recently been witness to what may be the longest satyagraha in its history. The indefinite hunger strike was called on 20 June 2007 by the Affected Citizens of Teesta, an ostensibly apolitical organisation formed to fight the Gangtok government’s decision to build seven large-scale hydroelectric projects within the ancestral lands of the indigenous Lepcha community. Since then, at any given time passers-by at the Bhutia Lepcha House in Gangtok have seen at least ten satyagrahis lying down in silent protest – young women and men, as well as a host of Buddhist lamas.READ MORE ABOUT IT @http://www.himalmag.com/2007/september/sikkim_hydropower.htm

Central team to visit NHPC project sites

GANGTOK, Aug 28: A Central team will visit Sikkim soon to inspect the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation project sites at Rambi which suffered a loss of over Rs 100 crore following recent flash floods in the area."The Centre is sending a senior official to assess the damages done by flood to the NHPC's Teesta Low Dam Project," said Mr OP Thakur, general manager of the NHPC. "The joint secretary of the Union power ministry along with NHPC chairman Mr SK Garg will visit the NHPC sites at Rambi and Kalijhora soon," Mr Thakur, added. The team will also visit the NHPC project site at Singtam in East Sikkim, said a NHPC official."They will inspect the progress of work of the Sikkim project, which is already running one year behind schedule," the official, added. It may be recalled that the Teesta had flooded the NHPC project sites recently, washing away costly equipment and construction materials. "This was the most dangerous flood occurred in the past 40 years n the state," Mr Thakur, added. Meanwhile, construction works of the NHPC are yet to be restored

Sikkim's first hydropower project to be ready in December

Gangtok (Sikkim), Aug 28 (IANS) Sikkim's first mega hydel power project on the Teesta river is ready to open this year-end, producing 510 MW of electricity that Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling hopes will silence critics of the other 26 projects now underway.
Codenamed Teesta Stage V, it will lift up-and-away Teesta waters from the main river through an 18-km tunnel to feed a powerhouse at Dipudara of Singtam, 44 km from here in the southern region of the northeastern state.
Dipudara is currently witnessing a lot of activity. Toshiba's Japanese technicians are setting up three turbines and are also training their Indian counterparts.
With a capacity of 170 MW each, the turbines will be operated depending upon water availability. If necessary, only one will work during the lean season in summer.
Work on the river's upper reaches is complete. One of the two projects being executed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corp (NHPC), north-eastern India's first underground powerhouse will go critical this year-end.
Construction began in 2001 after nearly three decades of technical, socio-economic and environmental feasibility studies and preparations followed by clearance from the central government.
Special care was also taken in acquiring land and paying compensation to the minority Lepcha community in Dzongue region, 77 km from Gangtok, that this project partially touches.
The government's Sikkim Power Development Corp acquired on lease the required land from the locals. NHPC's relief and rehabilitation package for 115 affected families has included land, compensation of Rs.100,000, a ready-to-live house and a job for one member.
NHPC has planned for 800 jobs for the locals, both skilled and semi-skilled. While the rest of the package has been delivered, land has not been given yet. Land sites identified earlier were not found suitable. NHPC is searching for alternatives.
The land would be handed over to the concerned families, executive engineer S. Roy and chief engineer D. Chattopadhyay assured.
Care has been taken to stay within the parameters stipulated for such a project in a seismic region, as also on the environmental aspects, they say, also citing NHPC's track record on earlier projects.
The pattern is similar to the two projects the corporation has undertaken on the Rangit river in Arunachal Pradesh. It is the same Brahmaputra river basin, and the challenges posed were similar.
This project will produce 510 MW power, which Sikkim will sell to the national grid for a hefty Rs.1 billion, says an elated Chamling whose target is a clean Rs.20 billon annually - provided 26 other projects on the Teesta are completed.
The projects, however, are facing protests spearheaded by the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) that are gathering support home and internationally.
Some people are on a relay hunger strike for the past 70 days. But two prominent protesters, Tenzin Lepcha, 20, and Dawa Lepcha, 35, broke their fast on the 65th day last week following an assurance from Chamling.
Dawa admitted that the protest was mainly by some Dzongue Lepchas, but there was no support to the movement in other areas where 22 power projects are being undertaken.
'We contacted them but they didn't respond,' Dawa, a self-employed videographer, told IANS here.
He attributed this to a 'lack of awareness and may be... they are afraid of the government'.
Insisting that work would go on, the chief minister is ready to talk to ACT and examine their viewpoint. 'I shall talk to them and also undertake a tour of Dzongue next month,' Chamling said.

Trouble In Paradise

Not this North-east policy

August 27, 2007:As we celebrate 60 years of India’s independence, a section of youth from north-east India are challenging the vision of ‘development’ being sold to them by the central and state governments. Since June 21, 2007, the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) are on a satyagraha against a plan to build 27 large hydroelectric projects in Sikkim. Among the many concerns are the serious ecological impacts on the fragile and sacred Khangchendzonga landscape, including the Teesta river and the socio-cultural impacts due to the influx of large labour populations, particularly on the vulnerable Lepcha tribal community. Sikkimese youth from around the world have been writing proactively on the Internet (weepingsikkim.blogspot.com) expressing their concerns. The protest has also received support from the Buddhist lamas (monks) of Sikkim who have been offering prayers for the well-being of the satyagrahis and the natural landscape they consider sacred.
In many development debates around the country, we often hear that while the older generation is resisting forms of development that uproot them from their cultural roots, the youth are more amenable to sacrifice their cultural and natural heritage in their quest for short-term gains. Current examples such as those in Sikkim tell another story.
Further east, Arunachal Pradesh is experiencing a similar phenomenon. Since May 2007, student groups across the state have been up in arms against plans to build a staggering number of 104 large dams in the state to produce over 55,000 MW of electricity.

The state is a biodiversity hot spot and home to tribal communities that have been given constitutional and legal protection, particularly with respect to their land rights and restricted entry of outsiders. While Arunachal is considered ‘underdeveloped’ and the youth are certainly keen for economic activity and its associated livelihood opportunities, they are clearly worried about the sudden spurt of mega-dams proposed in this ecologically and geologically fragile, seismically active and culturally sensitive landscape.
For example, the Dibang Valley in Arunachal is home to the Idu Mishmi tribe with a population of only about 12,000 people and is in the news as 13 large hydroelectric projects are planned for the area. The All Idu Mishmi Students Union (AIMSU) has been raising serious concerns about the proposed developments and holding awareness meetings in the region. A major concern is the socio-cultural upheaval due to the influx of large labour populations from outside for long periods for the construction of these projects.
The Dibang Valley also contains some of the last large contiguous tracts of tropical, sub-tropical and temperate forests in India and is home to several rare species of flora and fauna. The cumulative environmental and social impacts of 13 large projects in the Dibang Valley has got the students worried.
“These mega dams are not the development we want,” says Tone Mikrow, a mechanical engineer and General Secretary of AIMSU. “We cannot allow such massive destruction of our rivers and submergence of our lands, which are intricately connected with our identity. Development activities need to keep in mind the absorption capacity of the region. We would rather go in for a few small hydro power projects which are relatively benign — they will involve small dams on some of the tributaries, minor influx of outside labour and will be finished in short periods. This can help us set up small-scale enterprises like horticulture processing bases, giving an impetus to the local economy and providing local employment.”
Two sentences used by AIMSU in its awareness posters against the mega-dams in the Dibang valley raise very basic questions that India at 60 cannot ignore: ‘Don’t violate fundamental rights under the guise of development’ and 'Economic development can never be a goal in itself.’ Will New Delhi listen to these people?

(By Neeraj Vagholikar is a member of Kalpavriksh, an environmental action group.)

Assam Wants Increased Power Share from Sikkim Projects

50 pc power from Central projects demanded

GUWAHATI, Aug 22 – The Assam Government has demanded that the North East States should get at least 50 per cent of the power generated by the projects established by Central sector undertakings in the region. This demand was placed by the State Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi in the fourth meeting of the North East Regional Power committee, held under the chairmanship of the Arunachal Chief Minister in Itanagar.Addressing the meeting, Bordoloi said that recently the Central Electricity Authority had recommended that the region should get 35 per cent of the power generated by the power projects in the region should be allotted to the States of North East. He said that the recommendation was not acceptable and the region must get at least 50 per cent of the power generated by the power projects set up in the region. He said that only availability of adequate power would help the region to attain industrial growth.Bordoloi said that Assam already received commitment for allocation of 600 MW of power from the Lower Subansiri project and 300 MW from the Kameng Hydro power project and demanded that the state should get 6 per cent of the power generated by the units at free of cost, as Assam would have to face the adverse effects of the projects. The State Power Minister pointed out that there were reports of excess water release from Ranganadi power project creating floods in the districts of Dhemaji and Lakhimpur, while, release of excess water from the Hydro power projects of Bhutan created havoc in lower Assam districts. He expressed the view that these issues should be addressed through proper study. He said that the Government of Bhutan is laying a power transmission line though Rangiya sub station to transmit power to other parts of India and demanded that Assam should get a share of the power to be transmitted through the State.Bordoloi said that over dependence on power generated in the hydropower projects created scarcity of power during the winter season and pointed out that this trend should be changed and allocation from the thermal power projects should be increased. In this context, he demanded that Assam must get at least 60 per cent of the power to be produced in the thermal power station, which is being implemented by the NTPC in Bongaigaon. As Sikkim is now considered part of the North East, the other States of the region must get an allocation from the power projects set up in that state by different Central sector organizations, he demanded.

Lepchas withdraw fast in Sikkim

GANGTOK Aug 21: Members of the Affected Ctizens of Teesta “temporarily” withdrew their indefinite hunger-strike on the 62nd day of the agitation today following chief minister Mr Pawan Chamling’s “personal appeal.” The ACT members had launched the hunger-strike to protest against the upcoming hydroeletric projects at Dzongu in North Sikkim.Two ACT members ~ Mr Dawa Lepcha and Mr Tenzing Gyatso Lepcha ~ took juice from their president Mr Athup Lepcha at the STNM hospital here to end the fast. Ms Chungthik Lepcha, SDM and Mr Dhiren Lama, SDPO, were also present at the STNM hospital when the ACT activists withdrew their fast. “We have called off the hunger-strike following Mr Chamling’s personal appeal. The CM has assured us of fresh negotiation,” Mr Sherap Lepcha, an ACT activist, said. The ACT, however, would continue relay hunger-strike, he added. The Congress leaders, meanwhile, have refused to comment on the development. “We had only supported the cause for which the hunger-strike was launched. We did not force the ACT activists to continue their agitation. If they have withdrawn their fast, it is their business, not ours,” Mr Kunga Lima Lepcha, a Congress spokesperson, said.

New Security Force For Hydel Projects in Sikkim

Sikkim Power Rangers To provide securities to Hydro Power Project Units

Gangtok: The State Government will soon be forming a security force for hydel projects in the State and will be a separate police force trained and deployed to the different hydel electric projects in State .At present, Home-Guards are posted at various hydel projects for their securities.
The need for such a force is required primarily for the safeguard of dams, power-houses, and colonies which would come up with implementation of various power projects in Sikkim. The explosive materials housed by such power developers are also vulnerable to the theft and needs professional guards.The State Security force will be trained by the police .
The Power developers have been asked to forward their requirements ,after which the total strength of the force will be decided by the government .Only locals will be recruited in the Force.Their salaries will be provided by the power developers.Also connected with electricity ,the State Government has decided that all micro hydel projects shall henceforth be taken up by the Energy and Power department .This is a revision of a decision taken earlier by the State government by which it had directed that all such projects up to 500 KW capacity be taken up by the Sikkim Renewable Energy Development Agency(SREDA).
Such Mini hydel projects are chiefly aimed for the benefits of small communities; the main reason for this reversal of decision is high cost of small HEPs. HEPs have faced financial problems as regards to Investments due to its high costs therefore government has now decided that Power &Energy department itself would provide funds for undertaking these projects and also have option to lay down transmission lines connecting such small projects to the main grind transmitting the power supplies to all over state for better management of peak hour supplies .

Sikkim BJP for revival of ‘idle’ hydel power projects

GANGTOK, Aug 19: The state BJP unit has identified eight non-functional power projects as an alternative to the 26 mega power projects that the state government has proposed to set up at Dzongu in North Sikkim. More than 75 per cent of the hydroelectric power projects in Sikkim are non-functional. These include the Chatten hydel power plant, Rabum hydel power plant, Lagyap hydel power plant, Jali hydel power plant, Topakhani hydel power plant, Nimtar hydel power plant, Rothak hydel power plant and Rimbi hydel power plant, the BJP leaders, said. “Many of new hydroelectric power projects started by private companies or through joint collaboration with the state government may also end up in a similar manner as the other power projects. When the power projects which require no further investment for construction of the dam, channel, power plants, staff quarters, roads and machinery, can not be run profitably, the possibility of new projects being shut down immediately after beginning operations can not be ruled out”, said Mr HR Pradhan, president of the Sikkim BJP unit. “Many of the projects may not have the capacity to generate the power which has been indicated in the report and many of them may have been prepared on the basis of a very short period of discharge of the water flow and hence the generation capacity is highly inflated. With the inflated generation capacity, the private companies may have taken loans from financial institutions for an amount much higher than what was needed,” Mr Pradhan, added. He urged the state government to provide detailed reports of the hydroelectric projects it has sanctioned. The report must include the following points: which are the projects; what is the generation capacity of the project; what is the period of water discharge; a list of sanctioned letters; cost of the project; capital cost of each megawatt of power generation; what is the peak and lean period of production throughout 365 days; what is the total investment for each of the power projects; sources of finance; what is the period of repayment; which are the institutions that are funding the projects; what is the rate of interest being paid to the lending institutions; what is the percent share from the power generation in return; how many years would it take for the recovery to be made; who has given the surety for borrowing; if it is given by the state government, how was this decided; who undertook the environment impact studies and what is the level of dependency of the studies; what is the life of the project envisaged when factors like siltation, infrastructure building is taken into consideration; what is the amount expected from revenue once operations start on a yearly basis; what profit the investor is likely to make; what is the credibility of the institutions/companies which are taking up the projects and what will happen if the investor of the hydel project absconds before completing projects and who will be responsible for that?

59 DAYS OF HUNGER, HOPE & HEROISM

Gangtok,August 17: Today is the 59th day of the hunger strike of Dawa Lepcha & Tenzing Gyatso Lepcha and a host of relay strikers at BLHouse.Dawa is outside the BLHouse .He is weak, looks thin but very alert and Tenzing similarly but is at STNM hospital where he is receiving nasal feeding to cope up with his failing health conditions.A group of doctors has been assigned by state government to keep a tab on their medical and health conditions in view of long hunger strike.Many activities by community leaders, social support and others have been taking place on a daily basis to support the duo since the fast began.

Meanwhile, The ACT has issued following statement through media.

“This fast symbolically recalled the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters, particularly Mahatma Gandhi, to achieve democracy and self rule for ordinary Indians. The freedom fighters fought in a passive and non violent manner so that the poorest and least vocal sections of society could speak up for their rights without fear,” a press release issued by ACT, said.
ACT has reiterated its resolve “to fight against mega hydel projects by power developers in the protected reserve of Dzongu.” It has also reiterated its belief in “Satyagraha as a non violent and passive way of registering its protests and will not respond in kind to any personal attacks made through political speeches and pamphlets.”
The day also marked the 59th day of the hunger strike initiated by ACT against the Hydel Projects in Dzongu.
ACT has also thanked Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, headed by Dil Kumari Bhandari, for writing to the Chief Minister on behalf of the cause espoused by ACT.
The organisation has also thanked the Gorkha Rashtriya Congress for extending its support to the ongoing Satyagraha and SIBLAC for offering to join the hunger strikers on Independence Day.

Sikkim Chief Secretary Writes To "ACT" again

Sikkim Govt. asks ACT to call off strike
Gangtok, Aug. 17 (PTI): The Sikkim government has appealed to the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) to call off their strike and promised to address their concerns and protect the sanctity of the Dzongu area.
Members of the ACT have been on a relay hunger strike here for nearly two months, demanding the scrapping of all the hydro-electricity projects proposed to be set up in the Lepcha reserve of Dzongu in north Sikkim.
In a letter written to the protestors, Chief Secretary N D Chingapa, who heads the committee constituted to look into the issue, said the state government is committed to protecting the sanctity of Dzongu and everything regarding the power projects would be in conformity with old laws.
The letter also promised to address the genuine concerns of the protestors and asked them to immediately end their hunger strike, which entered its 58th day today.