NHPC strike till inspection
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20/08/2008
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Telegraph (Kolkata)
Morcha supporters sign on a map outlining the territory they want to be considered as Gorkhaland near Darjeeling More in Siliguri on Tuesday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo
Darjeeling, Aug. 19: The forest department has agreed to conduct a field inspection next week for the transfer of land to the NHPC for the construction of an alternative route along the Teesta- Takdha road.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which has stopped work at the sites of the two hydel projects for the past two days, however, said it would carry on with its protest till the inspection took place on August 25.
"We will go for a field inspection but the entire process of transferring land is lengthy. We have to get permission for a survey from the chief conservator of forests. Even after clearance from the state government, it has to be ultimately approved by the Union ministry of environment and forests,' said G.P. Chhetri, the divisional forest officer of Darjeeling.
Usually the government conducts at least two to three surveys before approving the transfer of land.
The Morcha had alleged that work on Teesta Low Dam Projects III and IV