The Hindu Business Line : Hunger strike in Sikkim continues as talks fail

Gangtok June 26 The talks between members of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) and Sikkim Government representatives, held here on Monday, ended inconclusively even as the indefinite hunger-strike by protestors entered its seventh day on Tuesday.

Members of ACT, supported by Concerned Lepchas of Sikkim (CLOS) and the Sangha of Dzongu and other organisations, are on an indefinite hunger-strike against the sanctioning of mega hydel power projects in the State, especially in North Sikkim.

The meeting held at the Secretariat in Gangtok failed to reach any consensus between ACT and the State Government. The protestors reiterated that they would continue with their agitation.

The protestors want all hydroelectric power projects in Dzongu in North Sikkim scrapped and others in the State reviewed.

The six-member ACT delegation was led by its president, Mr Athup Lepcha. In the absence of the Chief Minister, Mr Pawan Chamling, the Government team led by the Cabinet Minister Mr D.D. Bhutia, who is also the acting Chief Minister, decided not to take any decision. The Government asked the protestors to call off their hunger strike. "We have demanded that the State Government furnish us with certain documents regarding power projects planned in Dzongu in order to initiate further talks. We have been assured by the Government that all the required documents would be provided to us by June 28. Only after this will we consider having a dialogue with the Government," said a member of the ACT delegation.

"Our concern is to save Sikkim's environment, our forests, and the ecology in the Khangchendzonga National Park and the Khangchendzonga Biosphere reserve," Mr Lepcha said.

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