Gangtok: 20 dec
The Sikkimese people were feeling fortunate to have been blessed by the sacred visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to their home. But the whole festive mood has been white washed by the Government of Sikkim. It plans to approach the Indian Government to grant its consent to the 96 MW Lithang Hydro-Power Project over the sacred Rathongchu. It is at the base of the mountain on which His Holiness the Dalai Lama was meditating and sparing some of His most momentous and rare moments reads a press release issued by the President, National Sikkimese Bhutia Organization (NASBO).

River Rathongchu is one of the holiest streams of Bayul Dremo Djong and source to the Tashiding Bumchu and it is but natural that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should identify Tashiding for His sacred retreat. Instead of paying a mere lip service, the Government of Sikkim must respect the honour that even His Holiness shares as regard the sacredness of the area in question, adds the release.

NASBO has requested the Department of Ecclesiastical Affairs to kindly bring the matter to the notice of His Holiness during His Gangtok stay. They have also requested His Holiness to kindly convince the State Government to abandon the proposed 96 MW Hydro Power Project, Tashiding Hydro Power Project and the Ting Ting Hydro Power Project. These are all slated on the same sacred Rathongchu River that tantamount to polluting and disturbing the sacredness of Sikkim inner Bayul Dremo Djong, as established by the Mahaguru Padmasambhava. They have also requested the Indian Government to scrap the said projects in the greater interests of the Dharma survival of the Himalayan people.

All such power projects on the sacred River Rathongchu have been vetoed by Kyabje Dodrubchen Rinpoche, Kyabje Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche and other holy Buddhist masters. Infact, the Department of Ecclesiastical Affairs has remarked any such projects over River Rathongchu as ‘undesirable’ from the religious point of view as also instructed in the ‘Denjong Neyig’ (guide to the sacred locations of Sikkim). They have further submitted this as SOS (Save Our Soul) to the Lotus Feet of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the compassionate protector of all the sentient beings through the media with an aspiration that all the activities of His Holiness benefits all and May His Holiness lives long for universal peace.

(Courtesy: Sikkim Mail)

 

Comment