Sikkim’s Teesta Stage III power project underway

The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling recently laid the foundation stone of the 1200 MW Teesta Stage III hydro electric project.
During the ceremony, the Chief Minister welcomed and appreciated the decision of the members of the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) to withdraw their indefinite hunger strike.
While stating that the main aim of the State Government is to bring about economic and infrastructure development through hydel power plants, the Chief Minister said the Panan hydro electric power project in Dzongu would not be scrapped.
“The other four projects located in Dzongu, which were supposed to be implemented, stand scrapped,” he said.
Speaking on the Teesta Stage III project, Mr. Chamling said that a two-storied building would be constructed for those people whose land has been acquired by the government for the power project here.

“The project on completion would supply 12% free power to the State Government for the first 15 years and 15% free thereafter. Full ownership would be transferred to the government after 35 years, which would significantly contribute towards GDP revenues and overall development of the State,” Mr. Chamling said.

The 1200 MW project has been awarded to the consortium of promoters led by M/s Athena Projects Private Limited under the joint sector with the State Government under BOOT (build, own, operate and transfer) basis for a period of 35 years. Athena Projects in turn formed a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)-Teesta Urja Ltd- for the implementation for this project. The Teesta III is the largest power project in the State.
In his address, the Managing Director of Teesta Urja Private Limited, YN Apparao said that the project is totally environment friendly, Mr. Apparao said there would be two underground de - silting cambers of size 285X16mX21.2m each to exclude silt particles above 0.20 mm. “There will be 60m high concerted faced rock fill dam, two numbers, 11.0 m finished diameter tunnels, one intake tunnel, two de - silting chambers, headrace tunnel, two pressure shafts, underground power house complex, tailrace tunnel and pothead yard,” he informed. The project has received all the statutory clearances from the concerned authorities, he added.