Statesman News Service GANGTOK June 29: The meeting between the state government and activists of the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) ended inconclusively today, even as the hunger strike launched by the ACT activists to protest against the upcoming hydroelectric projects in the state entered its 10th day today. Although acting chief minister Mr DD Bhutia who is also the state’s land revenue minister tried hard to pacify the ACT leaders to withdraw their huger strike, all his efforts went in vain. Mr TT Dorji, additional chief secretary, responded to various issues raised by the ACT. He assured the ACT members of considering their demands. Mr KT Gyalsten, political secretary to the chief minister, said the points raised by the ACT were logically right. The acting chief minister, Mr DD Bhutia, instructed the officials concerned to look into the demands raised by the ACT. He urged the ACT members to withdraw their hunger strike unconditionally so that peace could be maintained in the state. “The power projects have been taken up in the best interests of the people of the state. These projects would increase the state’s revenue,” a state government spokesperson, said. Meanwhile, the condition of Mr Dawa Lepcha, general secretary of the ACT who was admitted to the STNM hospital here after he fell ill owing to continuous fast, is stated to be critical. Today, five college girls ~ Pemki Lepcha, Chuki Lepcha, Nimkit Lepcha, Ongmu Lepcha and Lhakit Lepcha ~ joined the hunger strike.
Gangtok: Tseten Lepcha, a former general secretary of the Congress and the chief coordinator of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), quit the party on Thursday. ACT activists are on a hunger strike for the last eight days against hydel projects in North Sikkim.
Gangtok: Dawa Lepcha, the general secretary of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) who was leading an indefinite hunger strike here, was admitted to a hospital on Tuesday. ACT has been demanding scrapping of hydel projects coming up in North Sikkim’s Dzongu area. Doctors found ketone level of Lepcha, on a fast for the last seven days, negative which could affect his kidneys. East district additional collector Naveen Chettri said Lepcha’s condition improved on Wednesday.
Gangtok/Kalimpong, June 25: The first meeting between members of the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) and the Sikkim government today failed to break the deadlock.
The ACT members are on hunger strike for the past five days demanding that the government should immediately stop all the seven hydel power projects coming up at Dzongu in North Sikkim — a reserved area for Lepchas. They also want the government to review all similar projects in the state.
Today’s meeting, held at the Tashiling secretariat, was attended by acting chief minister and urban development minister D.D. Bhutia, political secretary to the chief minister K.T. Gyaltshen, who initiated the dialogue, chief secretary N.D. Chingapa, additional chief secretary T.T. Dorji, energy and power secretary D.D. Pradhan and administration officials of North and East districts. The ACT was represented by its president Athup Lepcha, chief coordinator Tseten Lepcha and Sherab Lepcha.
The discussion, however, failed to bear fruit as the government officials could not provide any definite assurance in the absence of chief minister Pawan Chamling, who also holds the power and energy portfolio. Chamling is on a tour abroad. During the meeting Bhutia appealed to call off the fast till the chief minister returned.
A communiqué issued by the state public relations and information department in the evening today sought to clarify the government’s stand on the controversy. (more…)
Gangtok, June 24: Members of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) have come down heavily on the ‘coercion, subjugation and administrative intimidation’ that the people of Dzongu are being subjected to.
In a news conference yesterday, ACT members claimed that government functionaries were resorting to pressure tactics to gain support for the Teesta hydel power schemes. The allegations followed after Dzongu MLA Sonam Gyatso Lepcha came up with signatures of 86 people, apparently in favour of the power project, after a meeting on June 21.
“Most of the landowners are primitive tribesmen, docile, god-fearing and submissive by nature and a majority of them do not want to part with their ancestral land,” said Tseten Lepcha, the chief coordinator of ACT. “But they are being threatened that if they do not part with their lands all government facilities will be stopped. All those fighting for their lands, rights and future are being branded anti-national and politically motivated.” (more…)
Gangtok, June 22: The indefinite hunger strike by three members of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) entered the third day today.
Of the three who began the fast on Wednesday, one person was replaced today because of ill-health. Karma Tshering Lepcha, a forum member, today joined Dawa T. Lepcha and Tenzing Gyatso in the fast. He replaced Ongdup Lepcha who had started the hunger strike despite his illness.
The ACT members are demanding that all hydel power projects at Dzongu in North Sikkim be scrapped. Dzongu is a protected area for Lepchas, the indigenous inhabitants of Sikkim, protected under Article 371 (f) of the Constitution.
Monks and villagers from Dzongu today came to B.L. House on Sonam Gyatso Marg here to express their solidarity. Some of them also joined the relay hunger strike that is going on simultaneously. The fasting trio was honoured with khadas (silk garlands) and candles.
The BJP state unit led by its president H.R. Pradhan, Congress president Nar Bahadur Bhandari and AICC member T. Lachungpa were among those who called on the protesters. The political secretary to the chief minister K.T. Gyaltsen visited the protesters to initiate a dialogue and proposed a meeting at the Tashiling secretariat tomorrow. ACT members, however, refused the offer as no concrete decision could be taken in the absence of Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling, who is not here at the moment.
Gangtok, June 20: The Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) today began a relay hunger strike demanding that all hydel power projects in Dzongu be scrapped and the government review other projects coming up in North Sikkim and elsewhere in the state.
The general secretary of ACT, Dawa T. Lepcha, along with Tshering Ongdup and Tenzing Gyatso, started the hunger strike at B.L. House on Sonam Gyatso Marg here this morning. Villagers affected by the projects and monks are likely to join them over the next few days.
“We did not have any alternative,” said Dawa Lepcha, when asked about their agitation.
Dzongu is a protected area for the Lepchas, the indigenous inhabitants of Sikkim, and is protected under Article 371 (f) of the Constitution.
As many as seven hydroelectricity projects are coming up in the Lepcha reserve, including the 495 mw Teesta Stage IV, part of the 1,200 mw Teesta Stage III and the 300 mw Panan hydel project.
ACT fears that these projects will displace the original inhabitants of the area. Dawa Lepcha also blamed the government of flouting environment and green laws since all the projects are located in the Khangchendzonga bio-sphere reserve and the Khangchendzonga National Park.
Last year, the Sikkim government accorded the Lepchas the status of the most primitive tribe.
“On one hand the Lepchas have been declared as primitive tribe and on the other the government is assisting capitalist companies to bulldoze, plunder and devastate the land that had been protected for over a hundred years. It is a plan to uproot the last bastion of the Lepchas and make them aliens in their own land,” an ACT member said.
The organisation has demanded that the protected identity of Dzongu be restored and the environment and ecology of the biosphere reserve and national park be conserved.
Siliguri, June 19: Threatened elsewhere, pheasants have found a safe haven in Kalimpong’s Neora Valley National Park, about 100 km from here.
A recently concluded survey by the forest department on two sub-species — the Kaleej pheasant and the Satyr Tragopan — shows that the high-altitude national park has an “impressive” concentration of these birds.
Both the Kaleej pheasant and the Satyr Tragopan are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act as highly endangered species.
After a number of visits between June 2005 and October 2006, an expert team of North Bengal University, which carried out the survey for the forest department, has concluded that every square km of Neora Valley has about 5-6 Satyrs and 12-15 Kaleej pheasants (see chart).
“It is an impressive figure given that elsewhere the birds’ existence is highly threatened,” said Dipankar Ghosh, a senior coordinator of Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF).
“Pheasants are an important bird. They are indicators of the health of the forests,” ornithologist Sumit Sen told The Telegraph from Calcutta. “The fact that there is no large scale human interference in Neora Valley, which is generally not the case with other national parks, explains the presence of these reclusive birds there.”
Tapas Das, the divisional forest officer of wildlife II, said the study was taken up under a centrally sponsored scheme. “The aim was to find out the population, distribution and habitat preferences of the two bird species. The fact that there has never been a study on pheasants in this region and very little elsewhere prompted us to carry out the project,” he added. (more…)
The Teesta eats away at its banks at Kalijhora as an NHPC workshed topples over. Pictures by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha
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Siliguri, June 15: Last night’s incessant rainfall caused a landslide on National Highway 31A at Sevoke, stranding traffic on the arterial road for hours.
Down in the plains, the water level of the Teesta rose dangerously and broke through an embankment, threatening to engulf a village.
The landslip hit the sole connector to Sikkim and Kalimpong at a spot located about 17 km from Siliguri early this morning. “Traffic movement was restricted while the Border Roads Organisation got down to clear the rubble,” said Prankrishna Das, officer-in-charge, Sevoke police out post.
The debris was cleared in about four hours.
The Kalimpong to Siliguri route via Lava was also blocked for the entire day today following landslides at six places. (more…)
Prashant’s sister Archana and mother Indira (centre) at the rally. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha
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Kalimpong, June 14: A massive rally in support of Indian Idol contestant Prashant Tamang wound its way through the streets of this hill town today with his mother Indira and elder sister Archana in tow.
Braving a light shower, Prashant’s fans, including a huge contingent of students, went around the town shouting slogans in support of the policeman who has become the hero of the hills.
“SMS in favour of Prashant” and “Prashant you march forward, we are with you,” shouted the rallyists as people lining the streets voiced their approval. (more…)
Debesh Das (right) with bursar David Foning and Tapan Kumar Pradhan, Director Saptashree Gyanpeeth in Kalimpong on Wednesday. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha
Kalimpong, June 13: It is too early to say, but the hill town could well be an IT hub of the country if the wishes of a private trust come true.
Bengal IT minister Debesh Das today said the Dr Triguna Sen Trust has evinced an interest in setting up an IT park here. The trust has a plot of land in Kalimpong, he said while addressing an interactive session at Dr Graham’s Homes here.
The minister was here to lend his support to a BPO training academy being set up by the school. “This is a right step at an appropriate time. Such an academy is needed in several places,” Das said.
Pointing out that by 2010 India will need 50 lakh professionals in IT and IT enabled services, the minister said: “Starting of this BPO school is important if it can produce a talent pool (required by BPOs).” Referring to the number of education institutions in the hills, Das said these, too, could be harnessed into creating a talent pool for the BPO industry.
“I have seen in Calcutta that about 25 per cent of the workforce in some companies is from the Northeast. The hills and Siliguri have a good opportunity for growth in the BPO industry because of its proximity to the Northeast. Other advantages are low rent and price of land.”
D.K. Chaudhury of BPO Academy said the institute will churn out 1,000 personnel every year. He also thanked the minister for a broadband Internet connection in Kalimpong. Homes bursar David Foning said schools in the hills have supported the academy.
One morning this 14 year old traveling musician turned up outside my door with his Chaar Taarey (four-stringed) Sarangi. He was from Dhankota, Nepal and was traveling around the area door-to-door singing nepali folk songs.
Gangtok, June 11: It may be only a small step, but it has brought hope to second generation Nathu-la traders.
Sikkimese businessmen have sought Rs 20 crore as compensation from China for losses suffered by them after trading through the 14,400-ft border outpost was stopped in 1962 following the Chinese aggression.
The Chinese have agreed to look into the matter.
Many of these traders had family businesses at Yatung and other areas of the Chinese-occupied Tibet in the 1950s. They had been given 48 hours to wind up their trade, failing which they would have been arrested. About 100 traders from Sikkim and another 100 from Kalimpong fled China at that time. Nathu-la was sealed and remained shut for more than 40 years till it reopened on July 6, 2006. (more…)
