Teesta Stage V project Sikkim rehabilitation

Gangtok: The Sikkim government has decided to expedite the process of providing relief and rehabilitation to people evicted because of the Teesta Stage V project.

Over 50 landowners from East district had lost their plots five years ago to the 540-mw river project being developed by NHPC. The land acquisition was carried out in phases and the monetary compensation had been paid accordingly. The government will now provide the relief and rehabilitation (R&R) package as agreed earlier.

“We are looking for sites to provide relief and rehabilitation to people from the affected area. The entire process will be reviewed every 15 days” Vishal Chauhan, the district collector (East), told The Telegraph.

This was decided at a meeting held in the chamber of the East district collector yesterday. The meeting was attended by NHPC general manager V.K. Sharma, his colleagues and senior officials of the district administration.

“A joint meeting of the evicted landholders and NHPC will be held in due course,” said additional district collector (East) Naveen Chettri.

The district administration is gearing up to develop a site, which would be ready by September this year and will be allotted to the evicted people through a drawing of lots. Blueprints and estimates for a primary health centre, a community centre, a training centre and shops will be prepared and completed before the construction of the rehabilitated colony, district officials added.

Source: The Telegraph