SIKKIM: Rethink plea on skywalk, plant – fresh proposals ready

FROM THE TELEGRAPH


Baleydhunga, where the skywalk is proposed; Picture by Prabin Khaling
Gangtok, Dec. 17: The Sikkim government is planning to request the Centre to reconsider the Rs 750 crore skywalk project in Maenam wildlife sanctuary and the proposal for a 96mw Lethang hydro power plant in Yuksom.

The standing committee of the National Board of Wildlife under the ministry of forest and environment had struck down both the proposals in October.

The Sikkim government had sought approval for a survey for the skywalk as Baleydhunga — where the Rs 750 crore project was proposed — falls under Maenam wildlife sanctuary in South Sikkim. The 13th finance commission had already awarded Rs 200 crore for the project.

The Union environment and forests minister, Jairam Ramesh, is the chairperson of the standing committee of the wildlife board.

Sources said although no reasons had been cited by the committee for striking down the proposal for the skywalk, the Sikkim forest department has reworked the project and submitted a report to the state government for the approval.

“In the report, the cost of the project has been scaled down to Rs 750 crore from Rs 1,200 crore. The requirement of forestland has also been cut down from six hectares to 2.5 hectares,” said a source.

A senior forest officer said if the government approved the revised project, the draft would be sent to the Union forest ministry with a request that the proposal be placed at the next meeting of the standing committee.

The skywalk was proposed by an international consultancy last year in a rocky spur of Baleydhunga hilltop at an altitude of 10,102 feet.
The firm mooted the construction of three finger-shaped glass skywalks, which will be connected by a tunnel and accessible through a ropeway from the nearby town of Yangyang, 70km from Gangtok.

The forest department has also reworked the proposal for the power plant on the Rathung Chu. If the government approves the new draft, the proposal will be again forwarded to the Union forest ministry with a request for reconsideration at the next meeting of the wildlife board.

According to the sources, the standing committee of the wildlife board had rejected the proposal without considering the merits and demerits of the project.

“Instead of considering the project from the wildlife angle and the full support given by the local people during a public hearing at Yuksom, the committee rejected the proposal on religious and cultural grounds,” said a forest officer.

The standing committee had reportedly taken into account the concerns raised by the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha, a non-political organisation, and a section of monks. Their grouse was that the project would hurt the sentiments of the Buddhists in Sikkim as the Rathong Chu is considered a sacred river by the believers.