Because of the agitation launched by GJM, leading to frequent bandhs and labour troubles, work in these two projects had been stalled since 2009. Besides, an embankment at the project site had also breached in a flood, washing away heavy machinery. A 100-metre stretch of the national highway near the Rambhi site had subsided. But NHPC executive director for Sikkim and North Bengal Dhiman Pariza says construction work has resumed and the two projects are expected to be completed by 2013.
The two projects together would generate 292 MW, TLDP III would generate 132 MW and TLDP IV 160 MW. Both the projects are in their final stages now. West Bengal would get 12 per cent of this free as its share as the project is coming up on its soil. Pariza says West Bengal is likely to buy the rest of the generation as well and transmit it through the state electricity grid. It is likely to meet the power requirements of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri areas. But power transmission through the SEB grid could be delayed because NHPC has not been able to obtain clearance for erecting 37 poles for transmission tower lines in the forest areas of Kalimpong subdivision.
Pariza says NHPC has initiated community development activities in Darjeeling. A fund of Rs 40 crore has been sanctioned for setting up an engineering college and a Central institute of technology as well as upgrade of hospital. Under a community social responsibility, another Rs 50 crore has been allotted. But NHPC would release the sanctioned fund only after GTA makes available the land required to set up these projects. Some of these projects also figure in the agreement signed between the state government and GTA as the ones that would be set up in Darjeeling district.
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