RANCH BUBBLES

POWER PLAY IN POWER SECTOR:

STORY OF 1200 M.W. TEESTA HYDEL POWER PROJECT(STAGE III), NORTH SIKKIM

FOREWORD

 I begin with the premise that this presentation is based on memory. No papers of the Teesta project are available with me at present. Therefore, the presentation has its own merits and demerits. For ‘making’ the presentation, I have received requisite inspiration from Prof. M.N. Srinivas, the great Indian Sociologist, who authored the widely acclaimed book ‘Remembered Village’. It was purely based on memory, as the entire manuscript of the book was lost in a fire in a London Hotel. The book, incidentally, dedicated to the vandals, who caused the fire, went on to become one of the best Monographs of the Anthropological literature.

Needless to say, I cherish no aspiration of Srinivasan kind. I have to meet and rightly so, an essential requirement of the APPPA (July, 1999-April,2000)

(I)                INTRODUCTION:

The mountainous state of Sikkim is extremely rich in forest and water resources, apart from being one of the most exotic tourist destinations. As per the figures available in 1991, the total production of power in the state was barely 30 M.W. from its various micro- hydel plants which could not meet fully the total demand. The states, therefore, had to depend on some supplies from the Chukha Hydel Project in Bhutan, through the Eastern Grid. The state Government has been serious about utilising the hydel power potential in a gradual fashion. It is estimated that the total potential of the state will come to more than 10,000 M.W.

(II) TEESTA HYDEL POWER PROJECT:

       Hydrological and other related studies of 1200 M.W. Teesta Project were carried out by the Central Water Commission over a period of ten years. By the year 1991, after all studies were completed, the National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) was to execute the project in the North Sikkim District. The whole project was going to be underground. Six numbers of turbines, each having a capacity of 200 M.W. were to be located inside a 10 K.M. long tunnel between Chungthang (Sub- division H.Q.) and Namprikdang (below the District H.Q.).Water for rotating the turbines was to be taken from the mighty, high velocity Teesta River. A dam of  the height of 35 to 40 feet was to be constructed over the river near Chungthang. Water was to be taken through a Diversion Canal into the tunnel. The tunnel was to be located underneath a hard rock area, which had been declared very stable by the Geological Survey of India. The project was kept under ground in order to have no effect on the thick vegetation cover in the area as also not to attract the attention of China, whose border was barely 15 to 20 Kms. away (by crow flight). Also, it was aimed not to disturb the setting of local villages, which were inhabited by the fast dwindling Lepcha tribesmen.

(II)             PROJECT DETAILS:

 The NHPC had set up an office each at Gangtok and Mangan, (state and District H.Q. respectively) well in advance. The plan of the project township, the rehabilitation package for the 12 tribal families to be evicted from the project area, the benefits to be given to the local people , the amount of compensation for the land to be acquired etc. were worked out amicably by the project authorities in consultation with the District Administration. Certain pending matters were sorted out after I joined the District as D.C. in January, 1991. There was no opposition from any quarter in the State Administration as well, as the State was going to get 120 M.W. of power free of cost out the total of 1200 M.W. to be produced. This would have been more than the requirement of the state (60 M.W.) in 2005 (likely year of completion of the project)

(IV) PROTEST BY A POLITICAL PARTY:

                When the stage was fully set to start the work (middle of 1991) the State Congress (I) began instigating the local people. It was alleged that the traditional Lepcha reserve of Dzongu will be lost, a large number of tribals will be deprived of their houses and landed property, very little compensation would be paid for the land to be acquired and above all, there would be adverse impact of the creation of the project township over the innocent tribals, as a number of ‘outsiders’ were likely to work on the construction and subsequent control and running of the project.

(V) SUBMISSION OF REPRESENTATION TO THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA:

            The State unit of Congress (I) managed to submit a representation to the President of India. Since the members of the then ruling party at Centre had given the representation, the matter was taken seriously and certain doubts were expressed about the role of the State Government. The President of India directed the Governor of Sikkim to look into the allegations levelled, visit the project area and submit his assessment on top priority.

(VI) REACTION OF THE RULING PARTY:

          Sikkim Sangram Parishad, the ruling party, as expected, did not like the attitude of the centre. Movements and possible reaction of the Governor was monitored very closely. The Governor, in his own wisdom, asked me to send a “Status Note” on the project in view of the allegations levelled. Surprisingly,  the Secretary of the Land Revenue Department, Govt of Sikkim was not asked to give his reactions. I, therefore, submitted the Status Note to the Governor and marked a copy of the same to the Secretary, Land Revenue Department.

(VII) VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR:

        After going through the Status Note, the Governor visited the District Headquarter as also the project site. He also had detailed with the local people and leaders of the Congress (I) and the ruling party. Separately, he discussed the matter with me both in presence as also absence of the officials of state Power Department and N.H.P.C. After being convinced about the actual ground reality, the Governor sent his report to the President.  

(VIII) TEMPORARY SET BACK-NO LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL:

           Contents of the report of the Governor could not be known. However, the Government of India did not give clearance to the project as the then ruling party of the State suddenly took a decision to get the project executed through a private power company, instead of NHPC. Expected Benefits likely to come forth by way of participation of the private company could not be ‘amicably’ settled. The project as a result, could not see the light of the day.

Politicians of both the shades scored a victory, while the efforts of the government servants proved futile. Innocent people of the state could neither understand the power game nor could they comprehend the benefits of the power project. Nonetheless, they were sandwiched between two centres of power.

(IX) REVIVAL OF THE PROJECT:

       A new regional party came to power in the state in 1994. It scrapped Rathong Chu, a 30 M.W. Hydel Power Project in West District on environmental considerations. The Teesta  Hydel Power Project  was however freshly looked at. After prolonged deliberations and negotiations, it was decided to involve NHPC once again and seek concurrence of Government of India.

(X) PRESENT SCENARIO:

           Government of India has given environmental clearance for executing one of the five stages of the project, which will lead to production of 550 M.W. of electricity. Investment decision on the project by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Infrastructure is expected soon. At the same time, the matter is under active consideration of the State Government as regards executing other phases and stages of the project.

POSTSCRIPT

          








 Never give up hope even if the politicians hold the key. While the politicians may play politics over a limited span of time, most  of the bureaucrats indulge in politics throughout their career and never refrain from blaming the politicians for all the ills present in the system