Its the 53rd !! day of the indefinite hunger strike by Satyagrahis and members of ACT led by Dawa Lepcha and 20 yr old Tenzing Lepcha and while i write this a mild earthquake of probably something around 4 to 4.5 in the Richter Scale was felt in Gangtok. This is one of the many earthquakes in Sikkim in the last 100 days!The last major one killed labourers in Rabong and also damaged the world famous Tashiding monastery.
Meanwhile Dawa and Tenzing are still at STNM hospital and refuse to take food orally but through Ryle's tube. The rest of the members continue their relay hunger strike at BL House.
The
Chief secretary N.D. Chingapa, who heads the high powered committee dealing with the issue, today wrote to ACT members and reiterated that the government was committed to protect the sanctity of Dzongu and the old laws of the state.
“The state government assures that all genuine concerns will be addressed and ACT is welcome to state their case before the appropriate authorities” the letter reads.
There is yet no confirmation on the part of ACT as to a formal acceptance of such an offer.
In another press release from IPR of the Government of Sikkim, guidelines and terms of reference for the project implementation & Monitoring cell set up to keep track of ongoing implementation of various hydroelectric projects in Sikkim has been issued. They are as follows:
1. To
2. To develop and suggest plans for the independent operation and management measures for all the projects in coordination with the power developers.
10. Monitoring of R & R Plans.
Meanwhile on the other hand, Ms Chukie Topden, a member of SAFE which is an umbrealla organisation of various forums supporting ACT and opposing hydel projects in Sikkim wrote in the Sikkim Express.
" RELATION OF POWER PROJECTS IN
These hydel projects it appears have not been conceived and evaluated:
Reasons:-
The total installed capacity is shown approx. 6000 MW.
This will generate only 3000 MW (Maximum).
Thereafter, the generation of power will decrease annually.
By the year end 2045, the Generation of Power is likely to be NIL
As because - There will be no water in our rivers.
Reasons :-
Global Warming
Glaciers melting (Zemu Glacier have already receded by 5 km, as per the latest report by the Environmentalists.)
Heavy Deforestation by human beings.
Since all waters will be chanellised through massive tunnels to a length of about 15-20 km down stream, there will be practically no water flowing in the river bed. This will kill all our flora, fauna and vegetation. This process of tunneling continues from Chungthang(North Sikkim) to beyond Rangpo upto Tarkhola in
No river means no evaporation to bring about the rain cycle. No air movement. This is simple geographical phenomenon. Only flies and mosquitoes will breed. We can well imagine the condition of our pristine nature, admired till today by the entire world.
The entire atmospheric environment will change; likely to cause severe warming, effecting unprecedented and deadly land slides, flood with devastating effect. This will be a man made calamity.
(Seismic Zone – IV – can trigger Earthquake up to 6.7 in the Richter Scale. CISMH Report – which necessitates considering safety factor for the highest earthquake intensity, while designing for engineering who have certified this construction. This is prime information for Government of Sikkim.
If it happens, surrounding habitation will wipe out
Though we have adopted democracy, our people are still God-fearing, and still revere the mountains Khangchendzonga, hills, lakes, cliff and river. Such projects will completely destroy the sanctity and sacredness of the area.
These projects will severely affect the demographic character of the area, which for example like Dzongu with a mere population of 6000/7000 god fearing innocent primitive tribe who are protected by strict land laws.
Where is the guarantee that deadly disease like HIV/AODS will not enter? The socio-economic benefits arising out of these hydel projects seem to be grossly miscalculated.
If all the hydel projects as proposed i.e. 26 numbers are all implemented, it will not generate more than 3000 MW.
Data collected by Department of Meteorology shows that the flow of water in
1973 – 4870 cusec – max flood
1993 – 2235 cusec – max flood
1994 – 1359 cusec-max flood
This shows the
If we are to preserve our hotspot of biodiversity, fragile eco system, our tradition and culture and build our economy, this is not the way.
We can build our socio economic condition by way of Eco-Tourism, manned by our own Sikkimese workers, generation of power by conventional methods like solar/wind energies, improvement in Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Floriculture, Afforestation in massive scale, small cottage industries.
Our power projects and industrial policy need a through review. "
Meanwhile Concerned Women of Sikkim have written to the District Collectorate regarding recent disturbances caused in the state by the opposition parties. They have also stated that ACT and SAFE are tarnishing the image of the state by starting up a website which they say is highly objectional.
Candles in front of the venue of the indefinite hunger strike.
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