Sikkim to announce policy for Hydel Power Projects

State Wise identified small hydel sites upto 25 MW

Given the state's huge potential for hydro power generation, Sikkim will announce a a dedicated framefork to attract private investments by March this year. The Hydro Power Policy would largely cover micro projects with a generation capacity upto 20 MW. "We are going to annouce the "Hydro Power Policy" for development of projects with capacity upto 20 MW elcetricity generation capacity by March 2010", Secretary, Power, Sikkim, P Wangchen told PTI. Wangchen said, "There is potential for around 2,000 MW which can be harnessed by way of setting up micro hydel projects electricity generation of upto 20MW each.

This policy would aim to attract private players for that." The policy is expected to have a host of incentives for private players who would bring in investments for developing such type of projects in the state.

At present, the state has around 8000 MW of hydro power potential out of which projects aggregating about 5000 MW are at different stages of development.

A Rs. 2.16 crs ghost called Purey khola micro hydel project

At a time when the State exchequer is bleeding to the tune of Rs. 38.45 crores as interest against a bond of Rs. 50.10 crores for a mega power project which is yet to see daylight, records of how dreams of expecting villagers have been dashed in remote Sokpey by the scrapping of a Rs. 2.16 crores micro hydel project have come up.

The State energy & power department in an RTI admission has stated that the micro hydel power project at Purey Khola at Sokpey, South Sikkim had been scrapped after investing Rs. 216.2 lakhs for the said project.

It is believed that the micro hydel project at Purey khola was scrapped by the Government sometime in the year 1999, said the department. The department also had no record available for expenditure incurred for preliminary survey and investigation of the said project.

As per the record available, the total expenditure incurred for Purey khola micro hydel project is Rs. 216.20 lakhs and the contractors have been paid Rs. 88.9 lakhs, the department said. It added that the project was proposed to be executed on private holding and the total amount of compensation to the land owner was Rs. 3.75 lakhs.

Today, the micro project resembles a haunted house with abandoned hallow building and rusty pipe lines. The project main building at the foothill of the marginalized Sokpey village is similar to a cardboard house project of school students, reminding all villagers of their trashed dreams like a never ending toothache.

According to the villagers, they had been seen hopeful dreams of a better tomorrow when the project had started. Now, it appears only the contractors got their dues. Instead of brining a better future, the project destroyed the agriculture prospects of the village by inducing constant slides, said local youth DB Katuwal.

Only a few lucky ones from the village who pursued higher education to become a lawyer despite great odds, Katuwal wondered why did not the government questioned or summoned employees for the abandoned Purey khola micro hydel project. The government issues notice on a common picnic but why does not it punish employees for such abandoned projects, he said. The so called developmental project destroyed the hopes of our villagers, he said.

Katuwal said that he will be filing on a PIL in the High Court on this issue. A great injustice has been perpetuated to the people of Sokpey and I will try my best to give justice to my villagers, he said.

The government should take this issue in a positive manner and work for development of the Sokpey village instead of restoring to negative tactics, Katuwal said.

source : Sikkim Express

3.00 MW Lodhama Small Hydropower Project in neighbouring Darjeeling Hills

(1.0 MW Jiwa Small Hydro Project, Himachal Pradesh )