ACT WRITES TO UNION ENVIRONMENT MINISTER SEEKING WITHDRAWL OF ENVIRONMENT SITE FOR HYDEL PROJECTS AROUND CHUNGTHANG

Affected Citizens: actsikkim@yahoo.com to jairam@sansad.nic.in

Hon'ble Sir,

With due respect the undersigned would to appeal to your honour to save the fragile mountain ecology and the endangered demography of the indegenous tribes of sikkim by consenting to one of our request (attachment),

Since,we are living in small remote state with less population ,it is very difficult to get our popular demands heard by the govt of india. after the prompt action by your honour in the matter of conflict of interest involving the EAC chairman, we see a glimmer of hope in you.

submitted with the hope that our voices will be heard in by our Government.

Thanking You.

Yours sincerely,

Tseten Lepcha

Attachment:

AFFECTED CITIZENS OF TEESTA

Chungthang,

North Sikkim.

To,

Shri Jairam Rameshji,

Hon’ble Union Minister for Environment

(independent Charge),Govt of india

New Delhi 7^th July 2009

SUB: IMPLEMENTATION OF CARRYING CAPACITY REPORT

Hon’ble Sir,

With due respect, I would like to bring to your kind notice the following facts for kind information and immediate consideration:

That while awarding the environmental clearance for the Teesta Hydro electric Power project Stage V, the MOEF had specified that no more environmental clearance would be granted to studies on the Teesta River until an independent carrying capacity studies of the Teesta Basin is completed. Accordingly the Carrying Capacity studies was entrusted to CENTRE FOR INTER-DISCIPLINARY STUDIES OF MOUNTAIN & HILL ENVIRONMENT,DELHI UNIVERSITY,DELHI(CISME) and the findings were accepted by the Ministry.

As per the finding/recommendation of the studies the MOEF had written to the Govt of Sikkim that No Hydro projects above Chungthang, North Sikkim will be considered for environmental Clearance.

However, even after such explicit orders the private Developers are carrying out their survey operation in these areas as the Environmental site clearances have not been withdrawn.

Therefore, your honour is requested to kindly order the withdrawal of the environmental site orders given to Polyplex Pvt ltd for 99MW Bimkyong HEP,99MW Tangchi HEP and 90Mw Bop HEP and other projects planned in area located above Chungthang as per carrying capacity report.

If the companies are permitted to continue their work, later on they will claim that lot of resources have been invested and as such these projects have to be cleared, causing tremendous damage to the ecology and the people here. Moreover, the carrying capacity studies after spending 5 crores of public money will be a colossal waste of resource and effort and above all the Authority of the Govt of India will be undermined.

Thanking You,

Yours sincerely

Tseten lepcha

Vice-P /chief Coordinator

Affected Citizens of Teesta,

Chungthang, North Sikkim.

Email;cten00@gmail.com