6 out of 7 hydel projects coming up in Dzongu to be scrapped......1 and the most controversial remains ........

The Sikkim chief minister Mr Pawan Chamling has announced that his government would stop construction of six of the seven power projects at Dzongu in north Sikkim, which had been cleared earlier. Construction of the Panan Hydro electric project would, however, continue. He also announced that three units of National Hydro Power Corporation project would be commissioned soon. He made these announcements in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly on the last day of the budget session.

The chief minister, however, refused to disclose the reason behind the government’s sudden back out from the six projects. He merely said that the generation of electricity from the proposed power project would solve the power crisis in the region. “We would also encourage Hydro-power tourism,” he added.

Earlier answering a question of Acharya Tshering Lama, the only Opposition (Congress) MLA, Chief Minister said only one Panan Hydel project will be set up in Dzongu as the company has already signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the State government. Explaining the importance of the project he said the project is being set up for the sustainable livelihood of the local people. “These days cardamom cultivation in Dzongu has been degraded and with the execution of the project, the locals would get employment in large number. Moreover, Dzongu would be the destination of ideal tourism and the each and every local product would be sold in good price”, he observed.In the financial business hour two separate Demands for Grants were passed.

Meanwhile, former minister Tseten Dorjee Lepcha has joined the indefinite relay hunger strike carried out by the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) today here at BL House.
To show solidarity towards the Lepcha activists, Mr. Lepcha has joined the hunger strike from 1pm and will continue for the next 48 hours.

He added, “The demand for scrapping all the hydel power projects is not only for the Lepchas of Dzongu but for the greater common good of all the people of Sikkim.”
Referring Dzongu as the Mecca for the Lepchas, Mr Lepcha said he has joined the hunger strike as a Lepcha and not as a politician. He also called for the protection of the “holy land” Dzongu.

Meanwhile, Dawa Lepcha who had resumed the hunger strike along with Tenzing Lepcha said that the “Chief Minister’s decision of scrapping all other six hydel projects from Dzongu is a welcome step but we want Panan project to be scrapped equally which is largely affecting the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve.”