Cong delegation meet Guv on SU land dispute

SIKKIM OBSERVER July 30, 2011

Cong delegation meet Guv on SU land dispute

Pay adequate compensation to landowners:SNPP

Observer News Service

Gangtok, July 29: Former Chief Minister and Sikkim Congress President Nar Bahadur Bhandari has sought Governor BP Singh’s intervention to sort out the growing controversy on Sikkim University’s land acquisition issue.

In a memorandum submitted to the Governor here on Wednesday, the former Chief Minister has urged Singh to initiative action against the State Government for its failure to provide land to Sikkim University in Yangang, South Sikkim.

SPCC sources said the Governor, who met the Congress delegation led by Bhandari, said he would meet the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and SU Vice-Chancellor Mahindra P. Lama to resolve the land issue of the SU.

Meanwhile, the Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP) has expressed its concern on the SU land dispute.

In a press statement, SNPP President Biraj Adhikari said, “It is ridiculous that after so many years the land has not been handed over, despite having received the full payment, and is an indicator regarding the government’s apathy towards the future of the younger generation of Sikkimese students.”

He added, “It is also brings to focus the flawed and outright illegal policies the ruling SDF government has been following regarding the alienation of land in Sikkim.”

Adhikari further added, “The SNPP condemns the fact that the Government has gone out of its way, quashing every protection offered by Article 371F, and sold away a large amount of lands to unscrupulous companies in the past, but has not been able to settle land for a University as yet, thereby playing with the future of students in the state.”

The SNPP has demanded that the government take immediate action to hand over the land to the University, with proper compensation to the land owners, at the earliest.

“The compensation to the land holders should be at par with the highest compensation amount given to any individual whose lands were acquired for the scores of power, pharmaceuticals and other industries in the recent past,” the release said.

Reports indicate that landowners in Yangang are unwilling to handover their land to the SU unless the government tells them to do so. They also said they would vacate the land only  after their demands are met.

The lost kingdom: A Kandell in the wind

T. Namgyal

Gangtok, July 29: Photographer Alice S Kandell captured vivid scenes of people and places of the former Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim during her visits to the hidden land between 1965-1971.

Sikkim received global media coverage during this period when the kingdom was ruled by Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal and his dazzling American wife Hope (Cooke) Namgyal.

At least 300 of Kandell’s “extraordinary photographs” were donated to the US Library of Congress in 2010 “to encourage worldwide access”. The webcast from this program, "A Tour of the Lost Kingdom: Sikkim," can be viewed online.

Kandell, Cooke’s college friend, became a frequent visitor to the small, mountainous kingdom and, at the Chogyal’s request, embarked on a project to document the Buddhist way of life in Sikkim.

While travelling extensively through the country, Kandell went high in the mountains to meet farmers and traders and photograph their families and homes. She visited monasteries and attended religious ceremonies with monks and lamas, captivated by the music, masks and dances. She captured formal and informal scenes with the royal family in Gangtok, as well as artisans with their crafts, children in schools and the mountainous landscape, a report said.

"I tried to use my camera to communicate the warmth and openness of the people of Sikkim. I wanted to capture the beauty that is everywhere," Kandell said.

Prince Palden Namgyal of Sikkim, who lives in New York, said "Dr. Kandell’s collection of photographs represents a rare and valuable snapshot of an era that many young Sikkimese have very little knowledge of today. The pictures are not only beautiful but represent an important historical record of our family. More importantly, they capture the culture, tradition and daily life of a far simpler and more innocent time. We are very grateful to the Library of Congress for preserving Dr. Kandell’s collection and making it accessible to all."

Sikkim’s indigenous tribals raise ‘merger issue’ to oppose hydro power projects

WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR

Jigme N Kazi

Gangtok, July 29: The minority indigenous Bhutia-Lepcha tribals, who have always unsuccessfully struggled to preserve their distinct cultural heritage ever since their country’s forceful takeover by its protecting power in the guise of ushering democracy in 1975, has sent a clear signal to the authorities, including the State Government, that they are against multi-crore mega hydel projects in the State.

No one, including the area MLA and Power Minister Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, turned up for last week’s public hearing of the Teesta Stage IV 520 MW hydro electric project in Dzongu in North Sikkim.

“The locals boycotted the public hearing held at Namprikdang as they against hydel projects in Dzongu,” said D. Lepcha, a local resident near the dam site.

North District Collector SK Pradhan, who is the chairman of the public hearing panel, was forced to postpone the meeting as around 300 chairs arranged for the hearing remained empty.

“It is notice that there is no representatives of the actual land owners for the project and there is also no attendance of panchayats or the area MLA,” said Pradhan.

The project, heavily opposed by the tribals, is being implemented by the NHPC.

Much the same fate hangs for hydel projects in the remote tribal villages of Lachen and Lachung, which are inhabited largely by tribals of pure Bhutia stock.

“We remain firmly opposed to hydel projects in Lachen,” said R. Namgyal Lachenpa, a villager from Lachen.

Meanwhile, the Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has petitioned Governor BP Singh seeking his intervention to stop two hydel projects in West Sikkim – 96 MW Ting Ting project and 97 MW Tashiding project – on religious and historical grounds.

SIBLAC and Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), two non-political organisations of the minority Bhutia-Lepchas of the State, while opposing the projects, had appealed to the affected parties to boycott public hearing of the Dzongu hydel project.

“We are opposing the proposed hydel projects on our sacred Rathong Chu as the holy river is sacred to Sikkimese Buddhism,” said SIBLAC Convenor and former minister Tseten Tashi Bhutia.

 In a memorandum dispatched to President Pratibha Patil, the National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation (NASBO), while opposing hydel projects on Rathong Chu river in Tashiding, urged the President to “review” Sikkim’s “annexation” with a view to making suitable “arrangements” for the survival of the indigenous people in the State.

“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,” the memorandum said.

EDITORIAL

CONGRESS DITHERS

UPA Falters On Anti-Corruption Drive

The Union Cabinet’s approval of a “weak” Lokpal Bill and Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s decision to step down on alleged charges of corruption are twin issues that will place the UPA Government in a tight position during the ensuing Monsoon session of the Parliament. The BJP top brass has admitted that BSY’s continuance in office after the Lokayukta report was out in the public domain would weaken the party’s fight against corruption. With civil society expressing their disappointment with the Lokpal Bill the BJP is now in a position to be more aggressive with the Congress party and the UPA Government to crackdown on corruption in high places. The party has already demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister for their alleged involvement in the 2G scam. The revelation of former telecom minister A. Raja on the 2G scam is making things more difficult for the Congress-led UPA Government.

Social activist Anna Hazare’s decision to go on indefinite hunger strike from August 16 next month to raise the pitch against corruption in high places will surely go a long way in galvanizing public sentiment against corruption and the UPA, which now appears to be on a backfoot on the corruption issue, will surely feel the heat in the days and months to come. Congress leaders, whose recent statements that the enactment of the Lokpal Bill should be left to legislators while discouraging civil society to keep away from such activities, now stand fully exposed as the Lokpal Bill now appears to be an ineffective tool to tackle the rampant corruption that is eating into the nation’s heart.

CBI submits report to AP High Court on Jagan Reddy’s assets

SC turns down Jagan’s plea, allows HC probe

Observer News Service

New Delhi, July 29: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday submitted findings of a preliminary inquiry into the assets of businessman-politician Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which had ordered the probe to determine if sufficient grounds existed for a full investigation of allegations that he amassed wealth disproportionate to his income.

On 12 July, the High Court ordered the preliminary inquiry after P. Shankar Rao, a minister in the Congress state government, alleged in two letters that Reddy possessed assets disproportionate to his income. Similar petitions were filed by some leaders of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

The court treated Rao’s letters as public interest litigation (PIL) and asked CBI to file a report in two weeks. Executives of around 23 companies that invested in business entities linked to Reddy were interrogated by CBI, India’s premier investigating agency, in the preliminary probe. The agency also sought information from the revenue, income-tax, mining and industries departments.

Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of late Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, resigned from the Lok Sabha seat and the Congress party in November last year and floated the YSR Congress Party recently.

Relations between him and the Congress soured following his father’s death in a September 2009 helicopter crash.

Reddy, who publishes Telugu newspaper Sakshi (Witness) and runs a television channel of the same name, tried to stall the preliminary inquiry by moving the Supreme Court, which refused to interfere in the probe.

On Friday, a bench comprised of justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma said the High Court had the power to ask for an inquiry and if there was no merit in the allegations, the court could dismiss the matter.

The complaints allege that Jagan acquired assets worth hundreds of crores of rupees from various companies and individuals as a quid-pro-quo for the land allotted and licences granted to them at cheaper prices for various activities when his father  was chief minister between 2004 and 2009.

They had further alleged many companies received undue benefit through questionable methods from the state government.

Majority of Jagan's assets are in the form of bonds and shares in various private firms, including Bharati Cements and Sandur Power Project company.

Jagan is believed to have a substantial stake in the 1200 MW Teesta Stage III hydro electric project in Chungthang, North Sikkim, being executed by M/s Teesta Urja Limited. (see page 4 for full report).

BJP heat on health dept on items supplied

By A Staff Reporter

Gangtok, July 29: The Sikkim unit of the BJP has accused the State Health Department of procuring “substandard equipments and chemicals” from M/s Mittal Trading Company and Brothers.

In a letter to the Chief Secretary and the Secretary, Health Care, Human Services and Family Welfare Department, Govt. of Sikkim, BJP President Padam Chettri has demanded immediate probe into the alleged substandard equipment and chemicals supplied to the Health Department in the past 15-20 years.

During the party’s recent visit to the local STNM Hospital, district and sub-divisional hospitals, PHC and PHSC “it was found that most of the equipments were lying idle. One of the reasons for this could be substandard of equipments, and chemicals supplied.”

“It is also understood that the rate at which equipments and chemicals supplied is sometimes more than 400% higher than the actual price,” the letter said.

The BJP has threatened to approach “appropriate forum” if the firm is not “blacklisted” and “further supply” from it stopped.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW People Have A Right To Know

TEESTA UPRISING: GREED vs FEAR

In the light of the re-emergence of anti-hydro power project campaign in the tiny Himalayan State, Sikkim Observer makes public the following information for public debate and discussion.

Sikkim may re-award cancelled MoUs for hydropower projects

VENUGOPAL PILLAI

Re-awarding of cancelled agreements for hydropower projects is an option that Sikkim government is pursuing, Pema Wangchen, Secretary, Energy & Power Department, Government of Sikkim, told Projectmonitor.

Over the past two months, Sikkim has cancelled 11 agreements that it had entered with private sector entities to develop hydropower projects under concession agreements. Wangchem, however, said that the state government was awaiting legal opinion as one of the affected private companies, Madhya Bharat Power Corporation, had moved the Sikkim High Court challenging the abrogation of its 96-mw Rongnichu power project.

Several private sector companies have shown interest in developing hydropower projects but the final decision can be taken only when the court verdict in the Rongnichu case is delivered, Wangchen explained.

Over the past few years, Sikkim had signed agreements for developing 27 hydropower projects aggregating 5,527 mw, most of which were scheduled to commission within the 11th Plan period (before March 2012). Explaining the rationale for cancelling the agreements, Wangchen said that most of them were cancelled due to extremely slow progress from private developers. In many of the cases, leave alone construction work, even detailed project reports were not prepared, he said. Four projects were cancelled due to environmental reasons, and in response to agitation by local group Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT). The projects so withdrawn are Ringpi (90 mw), Rukel (33 mw), Rangyong (117 mw) and Lingza (120 mw). The first two projects were, however, not yet awarded to any company, Wangchen said.

The 11 cancelled projects involved a total power capacity of 732 mw, and as such, are expected to have an adverse impact on Sikkim's 11th Plan capacity addition programme. Wangchen, however, maintained that the remaining projects were progressing well and that during the 11th Plan at least 2,000 mw of new capacity was expected to materialise. Most of the capacity would be from the 1,200-mw Teesta (Stage III) project in North Sikkim district that is being developed by Teesta Urja Ltd. Besides Teesta III, a "few more" projects would be commissioned in the ongoing Plan period, Wangchen said, without elaborating. Construction on Teesta-III, in which the Sikkim government also holds equity, began in June this year.

Hyderabad-based Gati Infrastructure also began work on its 99-mw Chujachen hydropower project in East Sikkim district in June last year. The project is scheduled for commissioning in 2010. Interestingly, agreements for two other projects of the same promoter—Bhasmey (32 mw) and Sada Mangder (71 mw)—were cancelled due to slow progress. A spokesperson of Hyderabad-based Himagiri Hydro Energy Pvt. Ltd also confirmed to Projectmonitor that work on its 300-mw Panan project in North Sikkim had begun.

The tiny hilly state got a major boost when Central hydropower major NHPC Ltd commissioned the 3x170-mw Teesta (Stage V) project in March this year. All the three units are now operational at full load, Ram Swarup, a senior project official of NHPC in Sikkim, told Projectmonitor.

NHPC also operates the 60-mw Rangit hydropower project and is today the single largest contributor to Sikkim's power availability. NHPC is also implementing the Teesta (Stage IV) hydropower project in North Sikkim district. A.K. Chaudhari, Chief Engineering (Teesta IV), NHPC, told Projectmonitor that the detailed project report was ready but construction work had yet to begin. He also said that the envisaged capacity had been revised upwards from the earlier 495 mw to 520 mw (four units of 130 mw).

Projectmonitor's efforts to contact most of the promoters of the cancelled projects were unyielding. However, a spokesperson of Orissa-headquartered Coastal Projects Pvt. Ltd that was awarded the 40-mw Rateychu-Bakchachu project in North Sikkim district said that the project was in a "nascent stage" and admitted that the DPR was not yet ready. By original timelines, the same was expected by March last year.

Sikkim State Power Development Corporation, the state government-owned power generation company, currently has only 37 mw of operational power capacity. Of this, 32 mw comes from hydropower projects (including micro projects) and two diesel-fired power plants aggregating 7 mw. NHPC has 570 mw of capacity coming from Rangit (60 mw) and Teesta-Stage V (510 mw). Thanks to Teesta-V from which Sikkim gets 12 per cent of the power generated, power availability in the hilly state has vastly improved. In the first quarter of 2008-09, total power generated in Sikkim was 479.45 Gwh compared with a meagre 95.31 Gwh in the same quarter of 2007-08. [Projectmonitor, August 4-10, 2008 - weepingsikkim.blogspot.com]

"Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten."
Cree Prophecy

IN LOVING MEMORY OF Ms CHUKIE TOPDEN - 26th November, 1954 -6th April, 2009

A Social and Environmental activist, Member of SAFE (Sikkim Association for Environment), and a dear friend of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT). She never feared to speak the truth to save Sikkim from the dangers of Environmental degradation and against mega hydel projects threatening our landscape. She will always be remembered and respected for her dedication in highlighting the most pertinent environment and social problems that all Sikkimese people face in these times and in the days to come.

Teesta Urja’s Chungthang hydel project

Teesta Urja Limited is seemingly on track to achieve the accelerated commissioning of schedule of March 2012 for commissioning all the six 200 MW units of the 1,200 MW Teesta Hydro Electric Project (HEP) Stage-III, in the North Sikkim district of Sikkim.

While as per the original schedule, only the first three units were slated to be commissioned in the 2011-12 fiscal, leaving the remaining units for 2012-13,  the optimistic project developer is entertaining high hopes of putting the entire project on the bus bar within the 11th Plan.

Importantly, around 11.3 km of head race tunnel (HRT) excavation work has already been wrapped up, out of the total 13.816 km. Besides, 94% tail race tunnel (TRT) excavation is completed, while excavation of diversion tunnel, flushing tunnel heading and all the access tunnels have also been completed.

The 1,200 MW HEP involves construction of a 60 m high Concrete Faced Rockfill Dam (CFRD), near the village Chungthang, 400 m downstream of the confluence of the rivers Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu, and a 13.32 km long horse-shoe shaped HRT, with a diameter of 7.5 m for discharge of 175 cumecs of water. The project would include an underground power house for housing six shaft pelton wheel turbines of 200 MW capacity, each. The project, upon completion, is expected to generate 5,183 Giga-watt hour (GWh) of energy per year, assuming 90% performance levels. The project cost is estimated to be around Rs 5,705.55 crore.

TUL, a special-purpose-vehicle (SPV) floated for implementation of the HEP, was awarded the project, on a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) basis, by the Government of Sikkim, which holds 26% of the equity of the company. TUL would be responsible for operating and maintaining the project for a period of 35 years subsequent to commissioning. (December 28, 2010)

Poor track record of Athena at Teesta III project in Sikkim

Athena Power Company that has been given the right to develop the massive 1750 MW Demwe Lower project in Arunachal Pradesh has a poor track record going by the records. The same company which is one of the debutants in power sector is developing the 1200 MW Teesta III hydropower project in Sikkim.

Teesta III Hydropower project: This 1200 MW project is being executed in Sikkim by M/s Teesta Urja Limited. Teesta Urja Ltd is also an Athena Group company. The Expert Appraiisal Committee (EAC) for the River Valley and hydropower projects of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, in its minutes for the April 21, 2009 meeting notes with reference to the Teesta III project, “It was seen during the field visit that the excavated materials are dumped on the slope of the Teesta River without constructing the retaining wall. There was every possibility of the excavated material going down in the river with heavy rain, as the rainy season has already started.” Such dumping of the excavated material is in complete violation of the Environment Protection Act and also the conditions of clearance given to the project. The EAC response was totaly inadequate, “The committee directed the project authorities to carry out the construction of retaining walls immediately at all muck disposal sites, before the actual construction takes place.”

    Moreover in December 2008, the Central Electricity Authority of Govt of India observed that Teesta Urja had made serious deviations from the approved DPR (detailed Project Report) for the 1200 Mega Watts Teesta III project and this was brought to the notice of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydro electric projects of Ministry of Environment and Forests on January 1, 2009 by civil society groups. This issue was discussed in the April 21, 2009 EAC meeting and the minutes note, “changes adopted by Teesta Urja contravene environmental clearance accorded on 3rd August, 2006, as per the recommendations made by the EAC and the project was issued environmental clearance with a condition that:- In case of change in the scope of the project, project would require a fresh appraisal”.

The Carrying Capacity Study of Teesta Basin in Sikkim by Centre for Inter Disciplinary Studies of Mountain & Hill Environment (CISMHE), notes that Chungthang, the location of the Teesta III project is one of the areas where high diversity of mammals, birds and reptiles is found. Further, the conclusion of the CISMHE study (page 80-81) is unequivocal, “Looking at the number of species of studied taxa and endemic exclusive and endangered species of studied taxa, Zone III is very sensitive and if the development project (stage-III) is executed in this zone (1800-2800 m, Temperate broadleaf forest, near Chungthang), an irreversible ecological damage is expected with respect to biological environs.” The report further says (page 210), the project would lead to loss of biological “wealth which is unique to this region”. Shockingly, the EIA of the project found no wildlife in the project area. It is clear that the EIA of the project was of very poor quality.

It is clear that the Athena, which otherwise has no experience of building large hydro projects, has very poor track record at the only place where it is building a mega hydro project. Such a company cannot be trusted with the biggest private hydro project of the country so far, that too in a pristine area and a state where a private project of any magnitude is yet to be taken up.(www.arunachaltimes.com)

Chamling lays foundation stone of 1200 MW Teesta Stage III power project in Chungthang

Chungthang, June 15: The Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, has welcomed and appreciated the decision of the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) to withdraw their indefinite hunger strike. He was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the 1200 MW Teesta Stage III hydro electric project here today.

While stating that the main aim of the State Government is to bring about economic and infrastructure development through hydel power plants, the Chief Minister said the Panan hydro electric power project in Dzongu would not be scrapped. “The other four projects located in Dzongu, which was supposed to be implemented, stands scrapped,” he said.   

   Speaking on the Teesta Stage III project, Mr. Chamling said that a two-storied building would be constructed for those people whose land has been acquired by the government for the power project here. “The project on completion would supply 12% free power to the State Government for the first 15 years and 15% free thereafter. Full ownership would be transferred to the government after 35 years, which would significantly contribute towards GDP revenues and overall development of the State,” Mr. Chamling said.

He further said that the power project will bring in economic boom for the people.

The Chief Minister also urged the promoters of Teesta Stage III to cater to all the demands of the local people, which include the construction of a Community Center, maintenance of roads, school repair, construction of monasteries, drinking water supply and the construction a statue of Guru Padmasambhava.

Stressing on the point that stopping on-going work at hydel projects even for a day means a loss Rs 500 crore, the CM said that the local people would get 80 % job placement facilities as per the guidelines given by the State Government. On the occasion, Mr. Chamling also made an announcement to rename Lingdong Secondary School as Sonam Chyoda Secondary school in memory of the late MLA from Dzongu.

The 1200 MW project has been awarded to the consortium of promoters led by M/s Athena Projects Private Limited under the joint sector with the State Government under BOOT (build, own, operate and transfer) basis for a period of 35 years. Athena Projects in turn formed a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)-Teesta Urja Ltd- for the implementation for this project. The Teesta III is the largest power project in the State.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Teesta Urja Private Limited, YN Apparao while placing the technical detail of the project. Stating the project as totally environment friendly, Mr. Apparao said there would be two underground desilting cambers of size 285X16mX21.2m each to exclude silt particles above 0.20 mm. “There will be 60m high concerted faced rock fill dam, two numbers, 11.0 m finished diameter tunnels, one intake tunnel, two desiliting chambers, headrace tunnel, two pressure shafts, underground power house complex, tailrace tunnel and pothead yard,” he informed. The project has received all the statutory clearances from the concerned authorities, he added.

At the end of the programme, the people of North Sikkim felicitated the Chief Minister. The Area MLA, Lachen Mangshila, Hissey Lachungpa and MLA, Dzongu, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha also addressed the gathering. (Sikkim Express June, 2008)

Sikkim OBSERVER

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