New Delhi, October 25: Shri Pawan Chamling, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Sikkim, called on Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, today, at his official residence at 7 Race Course Road (RCR), New Delhi

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At the outset, Shri Chamling requested the Hon’ble Prime Minister to visit Sikkim and dedicate to the nation the 1200 MW Teesta Stage III Hydro Electric Project (HEP), all 6 units which are expected to be ready for commissioning by December 31, 2016.  Teesta Stage III HEP, once completed, will be the second largest hydro project in the country and the largest hydro project constructed in India on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode so far.  Hon’ble Prime Minister confirmed that he would visit Sikkim for inaugurating the Teesta Stage III hydro project and informed that the dates of the visit will be finalized and communicate to Government of Sikkim soon.

Sri Chamling also presented to the Hon’ble Prime Minister a ‘Memorandum on issues related to hydro-power development in Sikkim’.  Through the memorandum, it was requested that the Central Government may finalize a hydro-policy for the country at the earliest, wherein hydro-power is declared as a renewable source of energy, at par with solar and wind energies, and States of the country may be mandated to purchase hydro-power under renewable power obligations (RPOs).  Hon’ble Prime Minister assured that action would be initiated in the matter at the earliest.
Shri Chamlingalso apprised the Hon’ble Prime Minister about the socio-political situation prevailing in Sikkim.  In this context, he asked for an early resolution of the issues relating to reservation of sets for the Limboo-Tamang communities of Sikkim, who were declared as Scheduled Tribes (STs) in 2003, in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly (SLA). Further, Hon’ble Chief Minister also requested Shri Modi for an early declaration of the ‘left out’ communities of Sikkim as Scheduled Tribes (STs).  Hon’ble Prime Minister promised that the issues would be looked into sympathetically.

Shri Chamling apprised the Hon’ble Prime Minister, in great detail, of the financial difficulties being faced by Sikkim, due to the acceptance of award of XIV Finance Commission (FFC) by the Government of India (GoI).  He brought to the notice of Hon’ble Prime Minister, the fact that in the first year of the XIV Finance Commission award period, i.e., 2015-16, the total transfers from the Central Government to Sikkim had fallen by 16%, as compared by  previous year 2014-15. Among all the States and Union Territories (UTs), Sikkim was the most adversely affected in this regard, and the drop in funds transfer witnessed by Sikkim was the maximum among all the States and Union Territories (UTs) of the country. He further outlined that as per the analysis of reputed think tanks/ consultancy groups, whohad been asked by Government of Sikkim (GoS) to estimate the likely shortfall in resources, over the entire period, 2015-2016 to 2019-2020, the total loss suffered by Sikkim in this period would be close to ₹10,000 crore. Shri Chamling requested the Hon’ble Prime Minister to compensate Sikkim for this huge loss, either by transferring the entire sum of money as grants or, alternatively, allowing Sikkim to avail of 50% of the estimated loss through special market borrowings, with the rest being transferred to the State as grant.  Hon’ble Prime Minister assured the Hon’ble Chief Minister that he was well aware of the financial difficulties of Sikkim and steps were underway to redress the predicament being faced by the State.
Shri Chamling also requested the Hon’ble Prime Minster to allow the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, His Holiness (HH) Ogyen Thrinely Dorje to come to Sikkim at the earliest.  Hon’ble Prime Minister promised help in this regard as well.