GOVT. AGREES TO ACT DEMAND FOR REVIEW COMMITTE;ACT DEMANDS 50% REPRESENTATION ON COMMITTE.The ongoing ACT led hunger-strike protests against hydroelectric projects in North Sikkim were within a whisker of resolution yesterday but got staled due to technicalities even as Dawa Lepcha & Tenzing Gyatso Lepcha completed 36th days of fast.
In a bid to find an amicable solution after a series of meetings between representatives of ACT and high powered committee constituted by Sikkim Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling ,the state government has agreed to set up a review committee following Sikkim CM ‘s directions .
However,a meeting held at Samman Bhawan on July 25, 2007 ,members of ACT demanded that the committee should be headed by a person acceptable to them and that at least 50% of committee members strength should be nominated by ACT and it has forwarded six names recommended by it for inclusion in Review Committee. These names are Ligden Lama, Dawa Lepcha, Pemzang Tenzing, Tseten Lepcha,Choppel Lepcha and Tempa Gyatso.
Meanwhile,the State government clarified that committee will comprise of all sections of people from Dzongu and not just the members of the ACT so that issue could be examined appropriately and a just&fair decision could be arrived in larger public interest.
ACT Chief Convener Tseten Lepcha has informed that an immediate issue of notification on review committee by state government as pre-condition to calling off of the hunger strike.
Chief Secretary in an official communication to ACT president reiterated the State Government’s commitment to uphold the sanctity of Dzongu and Old Laws as protected under the constitution of India and further agreed to review all aspects of hydel projects through constitution of a committee as per memorandum submitted to Chief Minister by ACT on 12 December 2006 and further assuring that “the Government will act as per the recommendation of the Committee” and also assurance that said committee would be directed to submit report within the time frame of a month.
Acting upon the official communication from government, ACT members sat in a meeting at the BL House, decided to lay down 3 conditions for the composition of this review committee:
1.That Committee be headed by an independent person who is well versed in social, religious ,environmental, and technical aspects of projects.
2.That 50%of committee members be nominated by ACT.
3.That an immediate official government notification for the constitution of Review Committee as per agreed terms and conditions be issued by the state government
In a bid to find an amicable solution after a series of meetings between representatives of ACT and high powered committee constituted by Sikkim Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling ,the state government has agreed to set up a review committee following Sikkim CM ‘s directions .
However,a meeting held at Samman Bhawan on July 25, 2007 ,members of ACT demanded that the committee should be headed by a person acceptable to them and that at least 50% of committee members strength should be nominated by ACT and it has forwarded six names recommended by it for inclusion in Review Committee. These names are Ligden Lama, Dawa Lepcha, Pemzang Tenzing, Tseten Lepcha,Choppel Lepcha and Tempa Gyatso.
Meanwhile,the State government clarified that committee will comprise of all sections of people from Dzongu and not just the members of the ACT so that issue could be examined appropriately and a just&fair decision could be arrived in larger public interest.
ACT Chief Convener Tseten Lepcha has informed that an immediate issue of notification on review committee by state government as pre-condition to calling off of the hunger strike.
Chief Secretary in an official communication to ACT president reiterated the State Government’s commitment to uphold the sanctity of Dzongu and Old Laws as protected under the constitution of India and further agreed to review all aspects of hydel projects through constitution of a committee as per memorandum submitted to Chief Minister by ACT on 12 December 2006 and further assuring that “the Government will act as per the recommendation of the Committee” and also assurance that said committee would be directed to submit report within the time frame of a month.
Acting upon the official communication from government, ACT members sat in a meeting at the BL House, decided to lay down 3 conditions for the composition of this review committee:
1.That Committee be headed by an independent person who is well versed in social, religious ,environmental, and technical aspects of projects.
2.That 50%of committee members be nominated by ACT.
3.That an immediate official government notification for the constitution of Review Committee as per agreed terms and conditions be issued by the state government
