GJM to stop NHPC projects in Darjeeling

SILIGURI-WB: 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 croe 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.