Gorkhas stall NHPC project in Darjeeling

Kalijhora (West Bengal), July 24 (ANI): Demanding separate state for gurkhas, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), called a halt to project work of the National Hydroelectric power Corporation (NHPC) at Kalijhora in West Bengal's Darjeeling District.

"We have called for this strike because this project is a central government project in Bengal. Through this strike, we want to pressurize not just the Bengal Government but the Central Government as well. We want our message to reach the Central Government," said Dilip Chhetri, block president, GJM.

The GJM says that the closure of the project is part of their movement and a way to put pressure on the Central Government, which they allege, does not pay heed to their demands.

The low dam project of the NHPC on the Teesta River, slated for completion in 2010, was set to generate electricity for the states of West Bengal, parts of Jharkhand, Bihar and also to Bhutan and Nepal.

As per reports, the NHPC is expecting a loss of rupees 15 crores a month due to the strike.

The tripartite talks involving the West Bengal Government and the GJM is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on August 11.

Earlier, the Centre had proposed to hold the talks on August 24, but the GJM wanted it to be preponed.

The last tripartite meeting between the three sides took place on December 29 last year where it was decided to take forward the talks after the Lok Sabha polls. (ANI)