Power Station damaged in a Gangtok landslide

GANGTOK, 02 May: Three distribution sub-stations along with the High Tension [HT] and Low Tension [LT] lines at Middle Sichey on Indira Byepass here were damaged in a landslide triggered by Sunday evening rainfall. As a result, the areas of Upper Sichey, Middle Sichey and Lower Sichey have been without power supply since last night. As things stand, power supply to the affected area will be restored only by Wednesday evening.
The landslide damaged the protection wall of the sub-stations and the posts carrying the HT and LT lines and it has also feared that the transformer might also have been damaged.
Power Department personnel rushed to the spot and started restoration works early this morning.
It was informed that the lines are likely to be restored by Wednesday evening if the work is not disrupted by more rainfall.

Superintending Engineer, KK Gazmer, Divisional Engineer, KS Chettri and Assistant Engineers, Bhim Thapa and M Sherpa, of the Power Department were at the spot since morning to oversee the restoration works.
The spot was also visited by Chief Engineer, GT Targain, who directed his officials and workers to work on a war-footing for the immediate restoration of the lines. The spot was also visited by the area councilor, Nilu Chettri.
The Assistant Engineer, Mr Thapa, confirmed that substantial damage has been caused.
He informed that the department has also hired extra manpower to expedite the restoration works.

The Superintending Engineer, Mr Gazmer, informed that only temporary restoration is being undertaken because the department is looking for another site to shift sub-stations for a permanent restoration.

It was also informed that the department has already informed the District Collector and Sub Divisional Magistrate about the incident and has taken approval for the immediate restoration.

The Power Department has expressed its regrets to the people of the affected areas and appealed to them to cooperate with the department till the completion of restoration works.

Power Finance Corporation sanctions Rs. 23 cr for Sikkim

GANGTOK, November 10: State owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has earmarked a major percentage of its asset base of Rs. 70,000 crores for the ultra mega power rojects which will be coming up in the nation.We have decided to lend as much as Rs. 50,000 crores to the proposed power projects in the country and a large chunck of the lending willbe for the ultra mega power projects, said PCF Chief Managing DirectorSatnam Singh said yesterday evening in a press meet in Gangtok.

There is a huge capacity addition taking place in the country at 78,000 MW by the 11th five-year plan which will require investment by various financial institutions, including the PFC, said Singh who along with other PFC officials, was here for a meeting with the state electricity utilities representatives from various parts of the country.
Singh said that in order to increase the share of public sector companies in power generation, the PCF has introduced two new schemes – power loans against existing projects for coming projects and restructured Accelerated Power Development & Reforms Programme (ARDRP)under which performance based conversion of loans into grants is provided for.

Power loans will be converted into grants by 50 percent to States who address the power distribution and transmission losses by at least 3 percent in 5 years and in case of special States like Sikkim, it willbe 90 percent conversion into grants if the target is achieved, said the PCF CMD.

When asked about Sikkim, Singh said that the State government has expressed its willingness to go for about Rs. 1000 crores as powerloan. The State government will be sending its proposal to the PCF soon.

The CMD said that power loans worth Rs. 23 crores had been sanctioned of Sikkim under the APDROP for reducing their power transmission and distribution losses. The loan is repayable in 18 months time.

Affected Citizens of Teesta launches their Official Website

Gangtok: It has been almost 45 days since Affected Citizens of Teesta(ACT) have started their protests by way of indefinite hunger strike led by its members over hydel-electric projects coming up in North Sikkim in particular and in Sikkim in general. ACT has just launched its official website http://www.actsikkim.com enabling their supporters,well wishers, and public in general to learn more about it and cause it is highlighting and fighting for.
The Affected Citizens of Sikkim - or better known as ACT - shot to fame on Internet when it launched its blog http://weepingsikkim.blogspot.com to chronicling their indefinite hunger strike led by duo Dawa Lepcha & Tenzing Lepcha and went on to make world aware of their holy land Dzongu and about environmental effects of hydro power projects on"Teesta" mighty river of Sikkim thus launching a movement to "Save Teesta".
Such was the euphoria and impact caused by blog Weeping Sikkim that it became a uniting force in bringing together from different nationalities,cultures,languages to come out and express their solidarity and support for ACT and its members;Never ever before had the national as well as international media given such an extensive and massive coverage on any issue related to Sikkim.
You can learn more about ACT and their cause now on their official website here.