Summit Report, Gangtok 03 Feb:
An emergency meeting of Sikkimey Nagarik Samaj today discussed the recent clearance granted by the Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for the Teesta Stage III hydropower project. The meeting was chaired by Sonam Gyatso Sherpa, State Coordinator, SNS, a press release informs.
The meeting expressed serious concerns over the hasty clearance granted without updated scientific data or Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) studies, and unanimously resolved to demand a clear stand from the State Government regarding this approval.
Pointing out that Sikkim Krantikari Morcha is celebrating its foundation day on 04 February, SNS has urged the SKM party president, Chief Minister PS Tamang, and the other party leadership to take a public position on the matter.
SNS has also called upon MLAs to raise the issue during the upcoming Sikkim Legislative Assembly session scheduled for 05 February.
The organisation has promised mass mobilisation, legal interventions, and “democratic protests” if the state government and SKM fail to take a decisive stand “in favor of Sikkim’s environmental safety.”
