Sikkim Earthquake impact studies at the dam sites of NHPC



Earthquake not caused by Hydro Power Projects: Sikkim CM



India’s power ministry has asked seismic experts from the Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee (IIT-R) to conduct earthquake impact studies at the dam sites of state-owned NHPC Ltd and North Eastern Electric Power Corp. Ltd (Neepco).



The Sikkim earthquake has raised questions on the future of India’s hydropower development. The 18 September 6.8 magnitude earthquake on the Sikkim-Nepal border has wreaked havoc in the Himalayan country and the Indian state, and scientists say the likelihood of a much greater earthquake in north India remains. At least 118 people have been killed in Sikkim, West Bengal and Bihar in the quake.

Teesta Urja Ltd, which is building the 1,200MW Teesta-III project in Sikkim, suffered losses of personnel, with 17 people killed, one missing and 10 hurt.

The decision to take IIT-R’s help was taken at a review meeting last Thursday that was chaired by minister of state (power ministry) K.C. Venugopal.

“It was decided to avail the services of seismic experts from IIT-R to analyse earthquake data and conduct the earthquake impact study at the dam sites of NHPC in the region, and more specifically those in Sikkim,” the ministry said in a statement. “Neepco was also asked to compile the seismic data collected from its power stations in north-eastern states for further analysis at IIT-R.”

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. Sikkim, as well as most of north India, falls in seismic zones 4 and 5, regions classified as highly vulnerable to high-intensity quakes.

Any delays in construction of hydropower projects in the region, particularly those on rivers originating in China, would affect India’s strategy of establishing its prior-use claim, according to international law.

India is concerned that hydropower projects planned in Arunachal Pradesh may be affected by China’s plan to divert water from rivers that flow into the Brahmaputra to the arid zones of Xinjiang and Gansu.

“India’s hydro potential is locked in the North-East,” said former power secretary Anil Razdan. “You can’t plan for this kind of thing. It is a grey area. Earthquake prediction is very difficult.”

Hydropower projects come with their own set of problems. Their construction requires specialized technology and design. They also have to deal with geological surprises such as earthquakes, floods and landslides. With the share of hydropower generated in the country falling from 40% to 25% in the past 20 years, the government is worried as this makes up only 38,206MW of the 181,558MW power generating capacity.

“We and Neepco are the major hydropower developers active in the North-East. We’ll study data from our monitoring centres to know the impact of the quake for future references,” said D.P. Bhargava, director, technical, NHPC. “We’ll first study it internally and then send it to IIT-R.”

NHPC has a power generation capacity of 5,295MW that includes two operating projects in Sikkim. It is constructing a 2,000MW project in Arunachal Pradesh and also has plans to set up projects having a total capacity of 6,696MW in north-eastern states such as Sikkim, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Bhargava defended the design of his projects. “There has been no damage to our projects,” he said. “We design our projects for earthquakes and such an incident should not stop us for planning for projects in the region.”

Several hydro projects have been delayed and India has met less than half the target of 14,393MW set for hydropower generation in the 10th Five-year Plan period (2002-07).

The country plans to add another 16,501.17MW of hydropower capacity by 2012. While the country has a hydropower potential of 300,000MW, around 145,000MW of this can be exploited.

Sikkim Chief minister Pawan Chamling dismiss link between 6.8 earthquake and Hydro Projects

Gangtok, Sept. 26: Sikkim Chief minister Pawan Chamling today dismissed a whisper campaign doing rounds in Sikkim, blaming the mega power projects in the state for Sunday’s 6.8 earthquake. To refute the allegations and allay fears, the chief minister also cited the example of Canada and Switzerland, countries that he claimed were dotted with hydel projects but were safe.

Experts from IIT Kharagpur, too, said hydel projects could not be blamed for earthquakes.

“It has been 10 years since our government initiated power projects in Sikkim. Earlier, too, such earthquakes happened in Sikkim but at that time there was not even electricity, forget power projects. There are whispers floating in Gangtok blaming hydel power projects for the earthquake, which was a natural calamity. This is one proof that such propaganda is false,” Chamling said while distributing ex gratia to the 400 earthquake victims of East Sikkim at Chintan Bhavan here.

Sikkim will have 31 hydel projects by 2015 and they are expected to generate Rs 1,500 crore annually.

“Second, Canada and Switzerland have the highest number of mega hydel power projects and tunnels, and revenue from hydro power make these countries rich and self-sufficient. If the power projects are reason for earthquakes then these two countries would have been devastated much earlier,” Chamling said.

As a third argument, the chief minister said the tunnels related to the projects were all 100 feet below the ground but Sunday’s quake originated 2,000km below the surface of the earth. “Hence, there is no connection between the tunnels and the quake,” he said. He also took recourse to history to allay fears triggered by rumours of another immediate quake hitting Sikkim. “Everyone knows that Sikkim experienced an earthquake after a long gap. We had earthquakes in history and according to the scientific data and our experience, another major quake in Sikkim is possible only after 15-20 years,” said Chamling.

A faculty member of the geology and geophysics department of IIT Kharagpur said Chamling was correct when he said hydel projects had not triggered the earthquake. “Hydel projects do not cause earthquakes and the chief minister is correct on that count. However, the earthquake of September 18 took place at a depth of 19.7km below the surface. He must have meant 20km. Earthquakes do not take place below depths of 700km,” he said.

Despite the scientific facts, the chief minister said, “irresponsible people” were circulating text messages about another immediate impending quake triggered by hydel power projects.

“Our people must be conscious and on guard against such rumours. I have not initiated power projects to trigger earthquakes but to provide a perennial source of revenue for Sikkim and its development and to remove poverty,” said Chamling.

The chief minister said most of the labourers and engineers working at the power project sites had fled. “This will lead to a delay of one year in the completion of projects and Sikkim will lose Rs 500 crore. No one has given a thought to this and anti-people elements are busy spreading rumours,” he said.

The chief minister has already distributed ex gratia in South, West and North districts. While the death compensation is Rs 5 lakh (the official toll is 77), Rs 50,000 was given for serious injuries and Rs 25,000 for minor ones.

“We are not discriminating between victims on the basis of whether he or she is a Sikkimese or not… We may be a small state with six lakh people but we have a large heart. Non-locals had died more than local people. They had died while working for Sikkim’s development,” said Chamling.

Later in the day, government spokesperson KS Topgay said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was supposed to visit Sikkim tomorrow, has cancelled his trip

VIDEO: Hydro Power Project Workers Flee North Sikkim After Earthquake

NHPC shut down Sikkim's Teesta Stage-V power station

GANGTOK, 25 Sept: The NHPC has has temporarily shut down power generation at Teesta Stage-V power station due to excessive silt and trash in the Teesta. An NHPC press release informs that generation was stopped on 22 September at 7:50 a.m. Stage-V has its dam at Dikchu and power station at Sirwani near Singtam.

The several landslides upstream in North Sikkim have loaded Teesta with excessive silt and debris, convincing NHPC to stall generation “as a preventive measure”.

Excessive silt can damage the underwater components of the turbine and presence of high volumes of trash in the reservoir restricts the flow of water to the machine, the release explains.

D. Chattopadhyay, Chief Engineer in-charge, Teesta-V Power Station, has assured that the power station will resume generation after “getting the silt and trash content in the water within the permissible limit”.

National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation demands review of Sikkim’s annexation

GANGTOK, 24 July: National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation [NASBO], in a letter addressed to the President of India, has appealed for a review of Sikkim’s annexation with the Indian Union with regard to the proposed 96 MW Ting Ting Hydro-Electric Project over the Rathongchhu river.

The Rathong Chu in West Sikkim is considered a sacred river with the patron saint of the state Guru Padmasambhava having directed its preservation, the letter explains.

“Sikkim was annexed with the great Indian Union in 1975 wherein, the Government of India assured the Sikkimese people of all sorts of protection and preservation of its lineage, tradition and culture... and the proposed Ting Ting hydel project goes against the essence of this agreement,” the letter contends.
The letter further states that despite numerous representations to the Government of India, the clearance given to, what NASBO sees as “anti-Buddhist”, 96 MW Ting Ting Hydro-Electric Project by the Ministry of Environment on 04 July, 2011 is “very disappointing and unfortunate”.
“In view of our very dharma being sidelined and threatened by such irresponsible and insensitive act of the Indian authority”, the letter calls for a review of the 1975 annexation and a better arrangement to ensure “Sikkimese survival and preservation of its dharma as well”.

Sikkim boycotts NHPC Stage-IV Hydro Project

The affected people of Teesta Stage-IV and their representatives boycott the public hearing scheduled for 22 July at Namprikdang.

North Sikkim, 22 July: The affected people of Dzongu carried through their resolve to boycott the public hearing called for Teesta Stage-IV hydel project with complete unanimity today. When all of them, including their panchayats and MLA, remained no-shows at the venue of the public hearing, the Namprikdang Ground, even till noon, the DC [North], who chairs the public hearing panel, postponed the public hearing till further notice since not even a single person had shown up, save the concerned officials and NHPC representatives.

The venue was hit by a minor case of arson last night when some banners and decorations at the stage were burned by miscreants. No substantial damage was caused.

The affected people, along with their panchayats, it may be recalled, had resolved that even though they were not opposed to the project per se, they could not trust NHPC anymore since they had seen the denials and ignored promises suffered by the affected people of Teesta Stage-V developed slightly downstream from where NHPC proposes to develop the Rs. 3,594.74 crore Stage-IV. They had drafted an 11-point list of queries and clarifications [see NOW! issue dated 22 July 2011 for details], which was submitted to the DC earlier in the morning.

The joint representation of the panchayat and public details that they want a written reply from NHPC to all the queries before they reconsider their decision.

Announcing the postponement of the public hearing, the DC directed NHPC to carry out thorough public consultation before the public hearing whenever it is called for next so that such a boycott was not repeated.

As per the Environment Impact Assessment and Management Plan prepare for the project, a total of 14 villages/ blocks will be “directly affected” due to various project activities. The total population of these villages is 14,291 divided among 2,793 households. As of now, none of them has any faith in assurances that NHPC would have made at the public hearing.

The hearing was scheduled to begin at Namprikdang Ground in Upper Dzongu at 11 a.m. this morning, but no official business could be conducted in light of the zero turn-out of people or their representatives.

Speaking with media-persons here, the NHPC Executive Director [Siliguri], Dhiman Parija, sought to alleviate the feeling of hurt expressed loud and clear today, by insisting that if the corporation has missed out something, it will make amends.

He added that NHPC will now approach the affected people, understand their grievances in more detail and fulfil their demands. He also stated that the people should express their demands and commented that today’s boycott came as a surprise, insisting that “everything was normal till the day before”.

AK Choudhary, Chief Engineer, NHPC Teesta Stage-IV, explained the project details. NHPC plans to generate 2,372 million units of power from Teesta Stage IV, 13% of which will be the State’s share. He also stated that the corporation was “always open to discuss as per the memorandum”.

The Teesta Stage-IV hydroelectric project is located on the Teesta in North Sikkim and 327.07 hectare will be acquired for it- 143.49 ha Government and Forest land and 180.58 private land.

The proposed dam site is located downstream of the confluence of Run Chhu with Teesta near Chandey village.

The major components of the project are located on the right bank (Dzongu area) while other infrastructure (project headquarters, store, workshop and labour colony) will be created on the left bank to minimize the land requirement in Dzongu. The dam is to be located at Zimchung and Hee-Gyathang villages, while the adit works will be confined to the Gnon Sangdong GPU. The labourers and officers colonies are proposed in Tingchim-Mangshilla GPU.

(NowDaily)

The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee against hydel power project on the Rathung Chu

Gangtok, July 21: The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (Siblac) today wrote to Union environment and forest minister Jayanthi Natarajan, objecting to the clearance granted to a 99MW hydel power project on the Rathung Chu, a river considered holy by the Sikkimese.

The committee contends that the clearance was given despite the ministry of environment and forests stating earlier that it had not received any proposal on the project.

Three power projects — Lethang (96MW), Ting Ting (99MW) and Tashiding (97MW) — had been planned over the Rathung Chu, a tributary of the Rangeet river. The Lethang project had been rejected by the standing committee for the National Board for Wildlife in October last year following objections from Siblac, which had pointed out that the proposed project would hurt the “religious sentiments” of Bhutias and Lepchas.

According to documents collected by Siblac, the ministry of environment and forests on July 4 communicated its environmental clearance to a private company that is developing the 99MW Ting Ting project, 140km from Gangtok.

This clearance, Siblac convener Tseten Tashi Bhutia said, was given within two-and-a-half months of then environment minister Jairam Ramesh saying his department was not aware of the Ting Ting project nor the other one proposed over the Rathang Chu.

On March 16, Ramesh had written to the National Commission for Minorities member from the Northeast, Spalze Angmo, saying of the three power projects initially proposed over the Rathung Chu, the 96MW Lethang project had been rejected by the standing committee of National Board for Wildlife. As far as the other two projects are concerned, the proposals had not been received by the ministry, Ramesh had said. Angmo had taken up the matter with the Centre on behalf of Siblac.

“Ramesh had stated categorically that his ministry was not aware of the Ting Ting and Tashiding projects. How come this controversial project got environmental clearance? We request an impartial probe,” said Tseten Tashi in his letter to Union environment and forest minister Jayanti Natarajan.

“We believe there is some communication gap within the ministry but we cannot allow our religious sentiments and history to be wronged by it. While giving the environmental clearance to the Ting Ting project, the ministry stated that there is no national park, sanctuary, biosphere reserve or historical monuments in the vicinity of the project area. But the proposed dam of all the three projects is located within 10km of the Kanchenjungha National Park,” said Tashi.

The Siblac convener has substantiated this claim before Natarajan with an RTI reply. The dam of the proposed 99MW Ting Ting and Tashiding power projects falls within 10km of the boundary of Kanchenjungha National Park, the state forest department had submitted in response to the RTI query

sikkim Teesta Stage V project power generation disrupted

Gangtok, June 10 (PTI) Power generation at the 510 mw Teesta Stage V project at Dikchu in East Sikkim district remained suspended for two days due to heavy siltation in the reservoir.The hydrology record of the NHPC reveals that the 66,449 ppm siltation was recorded for upstream and 70,753 ppm recorded downstream yesterday, the highest siltation recorded this year, NHPC sources said.The normal siltation of Teesta recorded 7,000 to 10,000 per million particles.The sluice gates of dam were opened on Wednesday morning to flush the silt from the reservoir and power generation was scheduled to resume after de-siltation process was over by this day.The heavy downpour and the resultant overflow in the Teesta river earlier had led to the amassing of silt in the reservoir beyond its normal level.The generation of power at Teesta Stage V (510 mw) hydel project at Dikchu had been suspended in the last week of May also for the same reason

Flashflood washes away equipments from Dikchu Hydro Power Site in Sikkim

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.

“This could have ended in a tragedy for me. I was relieved when stars shone through the clear night sky. If it had continued raining, my situation would have been much worse,” he said, after reaching to the safety of the left bank at around 9 a.m. on Monday.

The timing of the suspected cloud-burst which caused Sunday evening’s damage is propitious for the project developers, coming as it did on Labour Day, when no work was underway at the project site and no workers on duty. Had work been underway full-swing at the site, the toll would have been much worse than just the equipment lost.
That said, even the equipment loss has been substantial. The list goes something like this: one Aliva short kit machine, three Jackhammers, several hume pipes, connected air pipes, and water pipes. Excavator machines and a boomer machine were also washed away but are stuck in the river bed and can be recovered. The flood-waters also swept away the retaining wall in front of Cable Access Tunnel (CAT).
The equipment belongs to Drillcon Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, a sub-contractor of Sneha Kinetic Power Project Ltd. which is developing the 96MW Dikchu HEP.
Upon hearing of the flash-flood, ward panchayat, Lower Rakdong, BB Gurung, police personnel from Dikchu Out-Post and Phidang Check Post from North Sikkim rushed to the spot along with representatives from the SKPPL and Drillcon.
The Drillcon Project Manager, while speaking to NOW! informed that it will take at least one week, weather permitting, before work can resume at the project site.

Sikkim Monks seeks scrapping of hydel project

GANGTOK, Sept 20 – A joint meeting of National Sikkimese Bhutia-Lepcha Organization with the Denjong Chyarig Chogpo (Buddhist religious outfit) has deliberated on the threat posed by the proposed 96 MW Lethang hydel power project in Yuksam.
The proposal to construct the mega power project in the Rathong Chu in Yuksam, West Sikkim is the most undesired project which has ignited immense threat to the sanctity of the Buddhist tradition of Sikkim, mentioned a release issued by the organisation. “We appreciate the Chief Minister’s scrapping of the earlier Rathong Chu project respecting the Buddhist tradition and its sanctity of Sikkim, the release added.

The release thanked SIBLAC for attending public hearing of September 16, 2010 to protest against the Lethang hydel project.

The release further requested the Chief Minister to take another decision of scrapping any such projects and activities in and around the sacred Rathong Chu which falls under Places of Worship (Special provision) Act 1991.

The organisations also reiterated their stand for a proportionate increase in the total number of the Bhutia-Lepcha seat in the Sikkim Assembly.

Take environmental safeguards before implementing Hydro projects: Sikkim Governor

Gangtok, May 16, 2010 : Proper environmental safeguards must be taken before any new project is started in the mountains and river valleys of Sikkim, Governor B P Singh said in Gangtok Sunday.


"This was particularly relevant in the case of roads and hydel projects as the mountains of Sikkim are geologically fragile and that the state government and locals alike should be extra vigilant in such cases because developments must go on but their negative impacts must be minimized to the extent possible," Singh said.
Sikkim’s resource is all nature based and sensitive to environmental changes and this reality the state government should be compelled to work and progress within this limitation, Singh stated.
On tourism he said "since our tourism resources are all nature based and exposed to environmental and ecological impacts, we should try maintain a balance between quality and quantity tourism after assessing our carrying capacity."

He further said that our ultimate goal should be to encourage local private initiatives to manage tourism affairs and the government’s role should be limited to being a facilitator and a regulator.

Sikkim Environment, bio-diversity in peril

Gangtok,May08 : The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has said that the environment and bio-diversity in Sikkim have been threatened by construction of hydel power projects and absence of government safeguards.
The state government has not taken sufficient precaution against degradation of environment and bio-diversity by drawing up a catchment area treatment plan and protection of riverine fishes, the CAG in its report for the financial year 2008-09 said.
The CAG criticised the forest, environment and wildlife management department in particular as well as the independent power producers (IPP) for failure to set down a plan to address potential degradation of the environment.
The department, the CAG says, has failed to prepare an annual plan for protection of wildlife, preservation of bio-diversity and development of infrastructure although it received Rs 26.37 crore from six IPPs towards cost for compensatory afforestation and catchment area treatment. etc.
The CAG also pointed out that the aquatic life in Sikkim faced a grave threat in the wake of change in the ecology of the river system due to creation of reservoirs, fluctuation in natural river discharge and diversion of river water through closed tunnels.
Source: PTI

Sikkim to have highest mini-hydro power station in India

GANGTOK, November 23: Sikkim would soon acquire the distinction of having a hydro power station at an altitude of around 13,000 ft, the highest in the entire country.
The work on this proposed mini-hydel power project in Thangu in North Sikkim would start soon with active intervention from the State department of science & technology, said the department’s advisor Mr. GJ Samadhanam.
Mr. Samadhanam who was in Gangtok on Friday, said that the proposed mini-hydel project which is sponsored by his department had earlier been entrusted to a local NGO. However, the NGO could not complete the project in the scheduled time due to some unavoidable reasons and the resulting delay has resulted in cost escalation, he said.
After a meeting on Friday with the State chief secretary and officials from power department along with science & technology departments, Samadhanam said that it was decided during the meeting that the project will be handed over to the power department while the local NGO too would remain involved in undertaking non-technical and other jobs.
Samadhanam said that a fresh DPR will be submitted by the department soon and the Rs. 5 crore worth project is expected to be completed in the next two years.

Bahuguna criticises Sikkim govt on hydel projects

Gangtok, Nov 12 (PTI) Criticising the Pawan Kumar Chamling government in Sikkim for tapping hydel potential for commercial benefits, noted environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna today alleged that construction of several hydel projects in Sikkim amounted to a "destructive act" against the ecology of the "greenest" state of the country.

"The hydropower projects in Sikkim are a destructive act against the ecology and environment of Sikkim which is a part of the Himalayan mountain range," he told reporters here in reply to a question about his views on the construction of dams in thick forested areas in North Sikkim.

Power generation by disturbing water resources emanating from the Himalayans cannot be justified, Bahuguna said and flayed the Chamling government for seeking to commercially tap them, through "destruction of the forest cover and the fragile landscape

Power developer LANCO starts scholarships in Sikkim School

Majhitar (Rangpo)Nov11: In compliance of its Corporate Social responsibility, LANCO Energy Private Limited in a social welfare programme held at Majhitar Primary School Ground, East Sikkim, distributed scholarship to 18 meritorious students of different schools of South Sikkim where the company is working.
Building and Housing Department Minister Mrs. Tilu Gurung was chief guest and Mr. BS Panth, MLA, Temi-Namphing and Chairman, Power Department, was guest of honour of the programme which was attended by SDPO Mr. Hari Tewari, General Manager LANCO, Mr. SK Sarkar, Advisor Mr. RK Pradhan and Unit Head Mr. BK Ojha. Teachers, students and panchayat members of Namthang-Rateypani and Temi- Namphing constituencies were present in large number.
Mrs. Gurung appreciated LANCO for its involvement in social activities. “Many big companies are currently operating in the state as a result of Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling’s visionary schemes”, she said, adding, “he had the idea of converting unused barren land and ever flowing water of Sikkim into main revenue generator”.
Chief Guest Mrs. Gurung said, 75% of LANCO’s total project is in Namthang-Rateypani constituency. She called upon company officials to have a coordination meeting in near future with her and panchayats of the constituency. More and more locals should be benefited by the company so that they will have full faith in them, she said. She urged the company to come forward in spreading education among people. She asked for total transparency in every project and emphasized on better coordination with locals. She called upon the company to construct a community hall at Namthang.
Guest of Honour Mr. Panth said, every policy of the company should be people-friendly and pro-people. He also praised LANCO for its social activities. He said, “Our people are very innocent, even our youths”, and urged the company officials “to keep a human touch with locals”. “Every company has socio-corporate responsibilities”, he underlined. No hatred or humiliation should be mated to the locals, he emphasized. He congratulated LANCO for encouraging local students with scholarship.
Mentioning dinking water scarcity of Namphing area, Mr. Panth asked LANCO to extend its helping hand in the matter. The company, while doing its construction work, should also maintain greenery and care for conservation of forest, he noted. He advised that the proposed construction of a barrage at Sirwani should be tourism-centric. Manpari-Samardung road should be completed shortly, he told the company.
“Our unskilled youths should be provided skill development training by the company and then employed”, Mr. Panth emphasized. He said the State government will provide every possible legal help to the company. Panchayats also addressed the meeting.
Company officials informed, total 409 locals are employed so far. Every year the State will be paid a revenue of Rs.1.50 crore. On the day, scholarship was given to students of Namthang, Kabrey , Bermiok Tokal and other schools of Temi Namphing and Namthang Rateypani constituency. Fire Fighting pump was handed over to Manpari Busty by LANCO.
On the occasion, a health camp was also organized by the company for handicapped people of the two constituencies. Another camp will organized shortly at Namthang, it is informed. Students of Majhitar School presented a cultural programme on the occasion.

Hydropower will make Sikkim richest state

Gangtok,Nov10: Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has praised the Pawan Chamling government for going ahead with optimum utilisation of the hydropower resources of the state. The Himalayan state was on course to become the richest state in India upon commissioning of the ongoing hydel projects in a few years’ time, he said. The revenues from the hydropower projects will not only boost the coffers of the state exchequer, but also bring about an overall socio-economic development in Sikkim, he added.
Mr. Shinde came to Sikkim on Saturday on a three-day visit within four months of his taking charge of power ministry for second consecutive terms in the UPA government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. On the day he chaired the 16th Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC) meeting held in Sikkim. Later in the evening he was talking to reporters.
Asked about the status of the six hydel projects which were put on hold by the ministry of environmengt four months ago, the Union Minister said, “I have taken up the matter at the higher level for grant of clearances to the six hydel projects.” He however maintained that the environmental issues must be taken due care of in conceiving hydropower projects. Even his ministry has made necessary changes in its hydropower policy in view of the environment-related concerns being raised by various quarters, he said.
He mentioned that a broad range of issues like the local area development, compensation to the project-affected people, jobs to the local people and setting up of training institutes for developing skills of local youths and their absorption in the power projects, etc, have been committed by the power developers engaged in the state.

Hydel Projects will bring socio-economic development in Sikkim: Shinde

Gangtok,Nov09: Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said that he has taken up with Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) over stalling the work of six hydel project in Sikkim earlier this year over environmental concerns.

"I have taken up the matter at the higher level for grant of various clearances to the six hydel projects," he told reporters here last night in reply to a question on the status of the six hydel projects which was put on hold by the MOEF four months ago.

Shinde, however, said that the environment-related concerns raised by the MOEF must be addressed appropriately by the stake holders in view of the buzz over the climate change.

The environmental issues must be taken due care of in conceiving hydro power projects, he said, adding even his ministry has made necessary changes in its hydro power policy in view of the environment-related concerns being raised by various quarters.

The MOEF had directed the Sikkim government in July this year bring all construction activities at Teesta Stage I (280 MW), Teesta Stage II (330 MW), Lachen (210 MW), Lachung (99MW), Bimyong (99 MW) and Bop (99 MW), all located in the ecologically sensitive Chungthang Valley in the upstream of Teesta River citing a report by the Centre for Inter-Disciplinary Studies of Hills and Mountain Environment (CISME) saying that these power projects endangered bio-diversity and rare wildlife of the region.

Shinde praised the Pawan Kumar Chamling government for going ahead with optimum utilization of its hydro power resources in Sikkim and said that the Himalayan State was on course to become the richest state in India upon commissioning of various ongoing hydel projects in a few years' time.

With the Chamling government having gone ahead with award of over two dozen hydro power projects in recent years with a proposed generation capacity of 5200 MW, the revenues generated from these projects will make Sikkim the richest state in the country, he said.

The revenues from the hydro power projects will not not only boost the coffers of the state exchequer, but bring in an overall socio-economic development in Sikkim, he said.

A broad range of issues like the local area development, compensation to the project-affected people, jobs to the local people and setting up of training institutes for local youths to honing skills and their absorption in the power projects, have been committed by the developers, Shinde said.

Union Power Minister Shinde In Sikkim Today

Sushil Kumar Shinde to visit Sikkim today

Gangtok,Nov06: The Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde will be on a two day visit to Sikkim from tomorrow.
Mr. Shinde is likely to land at Libing Helipad tomorrow at 2:45 pm. The union minister will be attending and addressing the 16th Power Utilities meeting where he will also interact with the host of Power Department heads from all the States.
The meeting is being organized by Power Finance Corporation and will be held at a local hotel on November 7.

Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) held its annual meeting at Namprikdang

Gangtok,Nov02:  A group of Lepcha children at a picnic organised by the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) to mark its annual meeting at Namprikdang in North Sikkim on Sunday. The organisation, which was opposing the setting up of hydel projects in Dzongu, a Lepcha reserve, felicitated those who have been supporting its cause since it came into being on July 19, 2004.
Recently, the ACT called off its indefinite and relay hunger strikes that began in June 2007 after the state government invited them for talks. Welcoming the initiative of the government, Atup Lepcha, who has been re-elected its president, said: “We are hopeful of getting a positive response from the government.” Sikkim Citizen Forum convener Thukchuk Lachungpa, ACT general secretaries Dawa Lepcha and Tenzing Lepcha and other youths who had participated in the relay hunger strike were felicitated.

Hot-spring at North Sikkim drilling site discovered

MANGAN, October 16: In what could be a repeat of 1949, the Himagiri Power Project staff discovered hot-spring at the site where they were drilling rock, about 150 ft above Lingdem Road on September 10.
The drilling works have been stopped after the discovery.
Talking to media persons Zilla member of the area, Dubzor Lepcha and the local people informed that the same hot spring was discovered at the same place in the year 1949 but suddenly submerged after two years. “This year, this hot spring has suddenly emerged with drilling works being carried out at the same place,” they said.
Meanwhile, the public has requested the Himagiri general manager and its staff members not to carry out drilling work at the site as the area, they said was very sensitive. “This spot should rather be developed for tourism purpose. Hot spring water storage tank should be constructer for wider benefit,” the public added.
Reacting to the public response, the Himagiri power project developers have assured to think over the development of the site for tourism purpose.