Eye on hydel projects -Sikkim will have 31 hydel projects by 2015

Sikkim/Gangtok, Sept. 22: Sikkim will have 31 hydel projects by 2015 and while they are expected to generate nearly Rs 1,500 crore annually after completion, experts said the government must always remain vigilant to possible risks the projects might pose.

Of the 31, two projects, the 60MW Rangit stage III and the 510MW Teesta stage V, have been commissioned. (See chart)

“Construction of 29 hydel projects are in various stages and all of them are expected to be completed by 2015,” said A.K. Giri, the secretary of the Sikkim power department. “If we make a very conservative estimate, the state will be earning around Rs 1,500 crore per annum on completion of these projects.”

Asked if the government was planning too many hydel projects in the fragile mountainous terrain, which falls under seismic zone IV, Giri replied in the negative. “Within six hours of the earthquake, the Teesta stage V project resumed operation. The very fact that none of the hydel projects were damaged is proof that proper constructions have taken place. The structures are constructed in such a manner that it can withstand earthquake of 8 on the Richter scale,” said Giri.

The Teesta stage V project was commissioned in July 2009 and was built for Rs 2,619 crore. It is one of the largest hydel power projects in the Northeast and generates an annual revenue of Rs 129 crore for the state.

The initial government decision to come up with 35 hydel projects in the state had, however, not been welcomed by all. In fact, the Affected Citizens of Teesta, Concerned Lepchas of Sikkim and the Sangha of Dzongu had spearheaded anti-dam protests to preserve the fragile ecology of the Lepcha reserve, Dzongu, in North Sikkim. The government then scrapped the 90MW Ringpi, 33MW Rukel, 120MW Lingza and the 141MW Rangyong projects in 2008.

Subir Sarkar, the head of the department of geography, North Bengal University, while supporting the need for hydel projects, sounded a note of caution. “The construction technology is superior these days. But while building such structures possible hazards will always have to be kept in mind,” said Sarkar. The earthquake, which caused devastation in North Sikkim measured 6.8 on the Richter, would — according to Sarkar — technically be classified as “moderate”.

“Since the area falls under seismic zone IV, there is always a possibility of more intense earthquakes, even though tremors which we term as ‘great’ have never been recorded in this region,” said Sarkar. He said the country has been divided into five seismic zones by the India Meteorological Department.

“We have records of the occurrences of earthquakes of the past 200 years, based on which areas have been divided into different seismic zones. With rise in the grade, susceptibility of the area concerned increases. Parts of north Bengal and Sikkim are in zone IV, which means, they are the second most vulnerable area.”

-TT