Friday, Feb 16, 2024 22:45 [IST]
Last Update: Thursday, Feb 15, 2024 17:05 [IST]
GANGTOK, : The Citizen Action Party (CAP) Sikkim on Thursday held a rally from Amdo Golai to Gangtok DAC complex where it staged a dharna demanding transparency and clarifications from the SKM government on the Sikkim Urja Ltd disinvestment.
Sikkim Urja Ltd (formerly Teesta Urja Ltd) runs the 1200 Mw Teesta-III hydel power plant, presently defunct after its Chungthang dam was washed by the flash flood of October 2023. The Sikkim government owns 60.08% stake in the project and has reportedly decided to sell its entire shares to a Mauritius-based private company.
Speaking to the media, CAP Sikkim chief coordinator Ganesh Rai maintained that the State government has disinvested its shares in the mega hydel power project to Greenko company without any transparency or placing the matter in the State Assembly. He reminded that the SKM government was alleging gross financial irregularities by the previous SDF government during the construction of the Teesta-III hydel power project and had promised a CBI probe.
“Chief Minister PS Golay had also claimed that the project dam was a substandard dam but no investigations or action have been taken so far against the culprits. Now the State government, without informing the people who are also the owners of the State’s shares, have sold the Sikkim Urja Ltd’s entire stake to Greenko company,” said Rai.
CAP Sikkim demands the State government to show transparency in its disinvestment matter and the reasons for it, said Rai. He asserted that the CAP Sikkim will keep on pressing for answers from the SKM government.
“We will continue with our dharna here for 10 days and demand the State government to issue a white paper on the disinvestment of the State’s share in the Sikkim Urja Ltd. We will file a case in the court seeking a stay order if the State government fails to respond,” said the CAP Sikkim leader.
“CAP Sikkim is not here for a demonstration of power with our supporters. We are here to win the trust of the people and show them the right path. It is high time that people of Sikkim to know the difference between false and genuine promises. The people of Sikkim have given opportunities to the SDF and SKM, and have seen their governments. We request the people to give a chance to our party and see the real change,” said Rai.
CAP Sikkim president LP Kafley and senior party functionaries also took part in the rally and addressed the dharna gathering.
