<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif"><b>GANGTOK,: </b>The SDF has strongly condemned the “hurried and opaque inclusion” of Sikkim
in the Brahmaputra Board, a policy move, which the opposition party said, threatens
the Teesta river, the State’s environment and democratic control over water
resources.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The
Brahmaputra Board, constituted in 1980 under the Brahmaputra Board Act, 1980,
now includes 17 members after the addition of Sikkim and West Bengal recently. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Although
the board claims to work on flood control and bank erosion across the
Brahmaputra and Barak valleys, its core mandate also includes preparation of
DPRs for dams and other water-resource projects, said the SDF in a media
statement on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The board
operates under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti - raising serious concerns that
control over Sikkim’s rivers, including the Teesta, will be handed over to the
Centre, said the SDF.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">SDF
spokesperson Krishna Kharel said: “The SKM party which vehemently opposed
hydropower projects while in opposition, has overseen the sale of the majority
State equity share of Teesta Stage III to Greenko causes huge long term loss to
the State, the reopening and active construction of several hydro power
projects that had been scrapped during the SDF government. These projects are
currently being constructed in remote parts of the State without public
consultation”.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Kharel
asserted that State Water Resources minister Sonam Lama’s attempt to deflect
responsibility by blaming the past governments for Sikkim’s late inclusion in
the Brahmaputra Board is unacceptable. Since the board’s creation in 1980,
Sikkim has been governed by successive administrations - administrations led by
Narbahadur Bhandari, BB Gurung, Sanchaman Limboo and our leader Pawan Chamling -
none of which gave up total control of our rivers to the Centre, he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The
SDF party also demanded immediate answers regarding Central funds related to
the Brahmaputra Board and disaster relief. It claimed that the SKM government
has sought Rs 289 crore after joining the board for “nala development” and
“river protection wall” post the GLOF in 2023. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">“However,
Rs. 555.70 crores were already provided under National Disaster Response Fund
(NDRF) for GLOF recovery. Where have these funds gone?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">According
to the SDF, Rs. 44.80 crore was also released in advance as the Central share
of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2023-24 (approved 5 October
2023), as well as Rs. 48 crore released as disaster relief by the Centre. What
has this money been spent on?, the party asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">“The
SKM government has systematically sold off Sikkim’s natural resources - from
land and forests to - now our rivers as
well. Such reckless and uncalled-for interference in Sikkim’s natural resources
threatens not only our environment and future generations, but also weakens the
spirit of the special constitutional and historical protections guaranteed
under our Old Laws. In this light, SDF party strongly condemns this hurried
inclusion into the Brahmaputra Board without any consultation as well as a lack
of transparency in funds usage,” said the SDF spokesperson.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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