Govt orders to stop all activities of five hydel projects inDzongu

Gangtok, Sep 6 (UNI) The Sikkim government today ordered to stop all activities for the five power projects in Dzongu, North Sikkim, immediately until a review committee submits its report.

The blanket ban also includes the controversial 280 MW Panam project which is being developed by a Hyderabad based company.

A seven member review committee has been constituted by the state government headed by the Chief Secretary that will examine issues relating to implementation of hydel projects in Dzongu area and to make suitable recommendations to the state government within 100 days.

Till the submission of report by the above committee, all activities in the five projects in Dzongu area namely, Ringpi, Lingza, Rukel, Rangyang and Panam shall be stopped with immediate effect, says an official release.

Athup Lepcha, President of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), that had been spearheading the movement against the power projects in North Sikkim, has also been included in the committee. Sanjay Kumar Jain, an environmentalist is also a member of the committee.

The state government has also advised ACT to call of its relay hunger strike immediately so that the committee is able to deliberate on the matter in a congenial atmosphere.

ACT and a few other organisations, comprising a section of Lepcha community from Dzongu, had been on an indefinite relay hunger strike here at Gangtok since June 20 protesting against the implementation of mega power projects in Dzongu.

Dzongu in North Sikkim is the last bastion for the Lepchas and is a protected area.

ACT had been demanding that all the projects be scrapped apprehending environmental and demographic threats in the area.

Recently, ACT had promised that it will call off its strike if a review committee was constituted to examine the various issues related with the project.

UNI