GJM to stop NHPC projects in Darjeeling
Posted by barunroy on May 28, 2008
Siliguri (WB), May 28 (PTI) In a move to pressurise the state and the central governments to concede its demand for separate Gorkhaland state, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has decided to stop working of two ongoing power projects in Darjeeling hills worth over Rs 1830 crore from June seven.
Working of Teesta Low Dam projects III and IV would not be allowed to continue and all offices of the National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) in the hills would be forced to close down from that day, GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri told PTI over phone.
The Rs 768.92 crore Teesta Low Dam Project III was to be completed by the year end to produce 111 mw of power. The Project IV, costing Rs 1061.38 crore, was scheduled to be completed by September next year and it would have the capacity to produce 132 mw of power, Giri said.
Though these projects were being set up using resources of the hills, they would supply power to the plain areas of the state, he claimed.
NHPC officials could not not be contacted for comment.
During a meeting with a GJM delegation in Kolkata, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on May 22 rejected the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state but gave them an assurance of considering giving furher autonomy to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). GJM president Bimal Gurung, however, rejected the proposal and stuck to the statehood demand.
The GJM convenced its central committee meeting tomorrow where Bimal Gurung’s announcement of dissolving the DGHC would be endorsed, Giri said.
The issue of job loss of 1900 DGHC workers would also be discussed, he said.
[PTI UBR SK NN DD 05281319 K 05281323 DEL]
barunroy said
Dear Friends,
Greetings from Darjeeling!
I would like to thank Rashmidi for sharing this news with us.
Regs
Jyoti Mukhia said
I don’t know whether I am thinking from the right perspective or not but one question is hitting me since I heard of the threat of dissolution of DGHC, Does Bimal Gurung or GJMM has the power to dissolve DGHC or to stop the NHPC work?
What a thinking of Roshan Giri,”Though these projects were being set up using resources of the hills, they would supply power to the plain areas of the state”. Has NHPC started producing electricity? The very resources which will be a main source of revenue for the the Gorkhaland when it becomes , GJMM wnats to stop the work. I had been telling that GJMM has no strategy at hand that is why without thinking they are acting. There is no thinking in the party and iI think they do not know what they are expecting from this act.
honeybee said
BEGINING OF ” THE GREAT GORKHALAND TAMASHA PART- III”
aardee said
Going by what the Gujjars are up to in North India to get their sc/st status the GJMM banning NHPC works in Darj seems like an attention seeking ploy. Lets hope the govt & media take notice and ask for a dialougue…SOON.
With our country facing power shortage this should get some action taken by the government/media.
However, we should remember that power is for all…and benefits all…no power nmo industry…no jobs…no opportunities. So this will also mean that our people will also suffer in the hills the GJMM should consider and also take all into confidence on their “ban” moves…
Already I read in the Telegraph our poor bretheren that were contractors for DGHC are stuck without payments since GJMM refuses to let DGHC function…they have even given statements to the Telegraph that they pawned their wife’s jewellery to get contracts and now their payments are stuck… The talk of the GJMM dissolving the DGHC also sounds hare-brained what about the poor workers where do they go and what alternatives will they have? How are they to feed their family?
I fear for our people and I pray that good sense prevails…
Sachin said
All,
I thought the GJMM was an “intellectual” party but certain decisions are really shocking.
The common folks should not be affected by party decisions.
If we are looking forward for Gorkhaland, two things are required:-
a) Popular energy to carry on this movement. Are we shifting away from our prime focus?
b) Planning and strategy. Drawing national attention is a prime objective. Table out a goal setting chart. Strikes and Boycotts should be the last resort.
If we carry on without a plan, people will get tired of strikes and boycotts and we will get back to square-one.
Look at the fading tourism again. If you ask, no one in the hills wants education to suffer. Darjeeling district, which was once famous for its schools now have stiff competition from Sikkim and as always, from other Hill Stations. To add to that, we have water problems everywhere. And unemployment as well.
Our struggle for statehood should not impact whatever little progress is being made.
On our agenda for statehood, these things should be the prime focus and why we think we can better understand the needs of our people should be put forth.
Remember that this is a struggle for statehood. So, realistically, its not an easy campaign. When recognition for Nepali/Gorkhali language as an official Indian language took so much of time, Gorkhaland needs to have a realistic timeframe. The only way to meet this timeframe is to have a project plan, drafted by intellectuals and with popular mandate.
Thanks,
Sachin
Niraj said
GJMM WOULD SOONER BE THE CURSE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO STILL DEPEND THEIR DAY TO DAY LIFE FROM DHGC FUND.THERE ARE 8000-11000 CASUAL WORKERS WHO STILL WORK ON CONTRACT BASIS SO BIMAL SHOULD FIND AN ALTERNATIVE BEFORE SAYING ANYTHING TO PUBLIC,IT SHOULD NOT BE ONE MANS DECISION WHEN LEADING A MASS.WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE PEOPLE,WHERE WILL THEY GO?I HAVE SEEN SOME PEOPLE WHO RUNS THE FAMILY AND EDUCATE CHILDREN WITH THE SAME SALARY THEY GET IT FROM DGHC.
VERY SOON PEOPLE WILL COME TO KNOW THAT THEIR OWN LEADER IS TAKING THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER ,THEN COME THE OTHER PROBLEM.
I DONT THINK THEY NEED TO DISSOLVE DGHC INORDER TO ACHIEVER GORKHALAND AND EVEN IF THEY THINK IT SO THEN THEY MUST PUT THESE PEOPLE SOMEWHERE ELSE,I MEAN THEY SHOULD BE PERMANENT.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOLD THEIR LAND TO BUY LEADERS TO GET HIS CASUAL JOBS AND STILL CONTRACTORS HAVE PENDING MONEY FROM DGHC.
FOR ME THE THINGS SHOULD RUN AS IT IS AND DEVELOPMENT SHOULD CARRY ON.
JAI GORHKA
salil said
BG has asked all employees of the DGHC to resign, what kind of strategy is this.Are we here to do good for the people or snatch their daily bread.Nobody is protesting or raising their voice as these DGHC employees are to terrified of BG.I do not understand why the people of Darjeeling are so submissive,just willing to be slaughtered like a lamb, not once , not twice but every time.
Even before Gorkhaland there needs to be democracy in Darjeeling, no more dictatorship,no more shit head leaders from lungtham and patle bass.Wake up people,was 20 years not enough to you,did you not learn anything from history or are you too ignorant to learn…….God save Darjeeling
Sachin Tewari said
Hi Barun Roy/Jyoti Thapa Mani,
To get our state demand on to the national forum, we need to get hold of media attention in an appealing way.
It would be a great if you folks like you can go to a forum like the “Big Debates” hosted on TV channels like the NDTV, to voice the need for Gorkhaland.
After reading through your posts everyday and considering the fact that you folks have been a part of media for quite sometime, you could muster your meaningful resources and be a part of this debate.
I do not know about the feasibility of such an arrangement but it is a suggestion on my part.
People need to know if they need to agree.
At the moment, we are very localized with our vision.
RSVP
Regards,
Sachin
Bishal said
i hope sooner or later we get leaders with Vision. for how long is this chaure (ishkush) and his progenies going to ruin our life?