With a view to protect, preserve and to encourage propagation of rich flora and fauna in this part of Sikkim which is of great importance from ecological, geomorphological and biological significance, an area of 850sq.km. was declared as
Then again, vide
The whole area of 1784 sq.Km. of
Though notifications on Khangchendzonga National Park and the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve clearly mention that the core zone of the Biosphere Reserve (i.e KNP) should be left absolutely undisturbed , there are more than a few mega hydel projects that are planned inside the National Park and Biosphere Reserve.
These projects are namely:
1. Linzya HEP -(120 Mega Watts being developed by SSNR Super Power (P) Ltd.,
3. Ruckel HEP
4. Ringpi HEP
(the above picture taken from the carrying capacity report clearly shows hydel projects coming up in the vicinity of Khangchendzonga National Park and Khangchendzonga Biosphere reserve)Also, the Panang 280 MW project is within kilometer of the National Park. It is going to destroy the Khangchendzonga National Park in the guise of Catchment Area Treatment Work. The work is to be carried out for period of 4/5 years covering 4005 Hectare in the vicinity of the National Park and Biosphere Reserve. This is gross violation of the Supreme Court Rulings and Orders . As ruled by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in many rulings pertaining to similar issues, there has been clear guidelines of not allowing any activity within a few kms of a crow flying range! Practically, most of Sikkim should be included in it then!
Well then..........., such grave environmental and sociological impacts of developmental projects in the magnitude of mega hydel projects always will overshadow and and leave a bad after taste in the intention of good environmental policies like the State Green mission, Organic Farming, Floriculture, The International Flower Show, Scientific studies on Climatology in Sikkim and also studies in Glaciers etc etc etc or these days, even policies aimed to get a share of the world carbon trading when its a fact that big hydro has been hiding its role in global warming!
......so...............whats the point.............?????what a contradiction ....?
......so...............whats the point.............?????what a contradiction ....?
Then, regarding other contradictions to begin with, no one can ever miss the ugly sight of the Akshay Ispat Factory (picture shown below) as and when one enters Sikkim at Rangpo!!...........................When efforts are being made to try and promote Sikkim as a major ecotourism destination in the world, the tourist is welcomed by the eye sore sight of a factory letting out hazourdous smoke. It is even more pertinent and baffling to note that applications to set up this unit which is a a subsidiary of Lakshmi Mittal's empire, had even the big states in India reject it on environmental grounds before it got permission to set up in Sikkim. Not only that, it even pays electricity that is subsidized and less than what a normal consumer in an urban area pays!!!!!! we also cant forget the fact that it is located in less than a kilometer diameter of Sikkim's first University which we seem to be very proud of, The Sikkim Manipal University!
These days, the Hydel Power Developers are now even asked to share the responsibility of maintaining and making schools, primary health centres etc which are proudly showcased as the hydel developers contribution in supposedly trying to help the people of the area it exploits for its corporate profits.This, interestingly, even a member of the government appointed Review Committee once remarked as was reported in a newspaper daily sometime back !
Does this mean that the state is also shying away from its primary responsibilities of providing basic fundamental benefits like Health and Education and leaving it to the corporates in some hydel developer to deliver.
Well, interestingly, borrowed money/loans from private banks and insurance companies like ICICI bank, LIC etc etc to name a few where the middle class save their hard earned money these days in India's present economic boom ultimately are loaned out to hydel developers to an extent in the guise to finance the mega dam projects and where most of the companies are first timers in undertaking these projects with practically no experience at all.........??
Well, interestingly, borrowed money/loans from private banks and insurance companies like ICICI bank, LIC etc etc to name a few where the middle class save their hard earned money these days in India's present economic boom ultimately are loaned out to hydel developers to an extent in the guise to finance the mega dam projects and where most of the companies are first timers in undertaking these projects with practically no experience at all.........??
........Hills after hills are bombed with dynamite, tunnels after tunnels dug inside our sacred hills, our most beautiful rivers, dammed beyond recognition and along with it our dying trees, fishes, animals, ecology.............................................People are losing their precious land that is even so scarce and having been passed down by ancestors and then compensated in money!, pretty little towns with suspension bridges losing their way into man made reservoirs of dead things but algae, silent people having to bear the brunt of man's quest to tame nature in pursuit of profit and to light up the homes of an ever increasing materially expanding country of a billion! and above all leaving an utterly weeping sikkim.....................
Even in everything that has been happening, to say that we are fit only to deserve only 12 % of the profit from the hydel projects is again utterly sad and pathetic!.......well.........why cant our share be not less than half of it......when such engineering feats cant seem to take place anywhere else...........
Even in everything that has been happening, to say that we are fit only to deserve only 12 % of the profit from the hydel projects is again utterly sad and pathetic!.......well.........why cant our share be not less than half of it......when such engineering feats cant seem to take place anywhere else...........
Well...........................is it worth it?......
Of course, developmental activities will tend to have an impact on the environment. Of course we do need to grow and feed an ever growing population...............but at this mad rate of 29 or more mega dams..............we wont even be able to imagine the myths of the Lam lamey and the ban Jhakris............. forget the other great myths of this great and sacred land!!!!!!!:):):):)
Moderation is badly the need of the hour before the posterity begins to curse the powers that be responsible and accountable for leaving Sikkim in the hands of White gold corporates/profiteers and to natures wrath............Please wake up..........!!!
Of course, developmental activities will tend to have an impact on the environment. Of course we do need to grow and feed an ever growing population...............but at this mad rate of 29 or more mega dams..............we wont even be able to imagine the myths of the Lam lamey and the ban Jhakris............. forget the other great myths of this great and sacred land!!!!!!!:):):):)
Moderation is badly the need of the hour before the posterity begins to curse the powers that be responsible and accountable for leaving Sikkim in the hands of White gold corporates/profiteers and to natures wrath............Please wake up..........!!!
"you can fool some people sometimes........................but you cant fool all the people all the time......."
Bob Marley
poet - singer & philosopher
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1 comment:
you can fool some of the people all of the time
and all of the people some of the time
but one you can't fool all the people all the time. Abe Lincoln
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