Sikkim Environment, bio-diversity in peril

[Mrudul Godbole]

GANGTOK: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has said that the environment and bio-diversity in Sikkim have been threatened by construction of hydel power projects and absence of government safeguards.

The state government has not taken sufficient precaution against degradation of environment and bio-diversity by drawing up a catchment area treatment plan and protection of riverine fishes, the CAG in its report for the financial year 2008-09 said.

The CAG criticised the forest, environment and wildlife management department in particular as well as the independent power producers (IPP) for failure to set down a plan to address potential degradation of the environment.

The department, the CAG says, has failed to prepare an annual plan for protection of wildlife, preservation of bio-diversity and development of infrastructure although it received Rs 26.37 crore from six IPPs towards cost for compensatory afforestation and catchment area treatment. etc.

The CAG also pointed out that the aquatic life in Sikkim faced a grave threat in the wake of change in the ecology of the river system due to creation of reservoirs, fluctuation in natural river discharge and diversion of river water through closed tunnels.

Link - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/h...ow/5864639.cms

[Sabyasachi Patra]

It is a sad state of affairs. We are devastating our fresh water resources. When will we wake up to the reality that large dams are not the solution.

"Billy" Arjan Singh, a man who had a large role to play in saving the tiger and in saving Dudhwa, said this about dams:

“…our denuded and exploited hillsides pour silt into massive dams built in a megalomaniacal splurge, choking their utility. We are felling forests, displaceing age-old civilizations, and rendering their future both destructive and infructuous. The ecological crisis whereby cultivation and civilization are devastated by floods is sought to be remedied not by damming the errant river, but by tree plantations to hold the collapsing hills – not because of any desire to recompense nature for the piracy we have committed, but because of a terror of the finality of the reprisals that nature has in store”.

Instead of large hydel projects, we should focus more on tapping the Solar energy. If you look at the hidden subsidies and inefficiencies attached with the hydel and thermal power plants, the solar power apart from being clearer is cheaper.

I hope the observations passed by CAG are acted upon.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi