Gangtok, Aug. 13: The developers of Teesta Stage III project in North Sikkim, where a rare mountain goat was found dead two months ago, have been let off with a fine of Rs 25,000 and a warning that serious action will be taken against it if such an incident recurs.

Teesta Urja Limited must also commit to take up development measures inside the wildlife area around the project site of the upcoming 1,200mw hydel power plant.

The animal found dead at the project site was a Himalayan Serow, which is an endangered species included in the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1971.

The decision to haul up Teesta Urja was made at a meeting convened by the chief wildlife warden of Sikkim here today.

Members of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), an NGO, and sectoral officials of the state forest, wildlife and environment management department attended the meeting, as did the principal chief conservator of forests-cum-secretary, S.T. Lachungpa.

Recently, ACT expressed concern after no action was initiated despite the lapse of two months since an FIR on the serow’s death was lodged.

The chief wildlife warden, N.T. Bhutia, said the meeting had concluded that a fine of Rs 25,000 as compensation was the maximum penalty which could be imposed under the law. “Normally, in such cases after filing a chargesheet, the guilty can be imprisoned for two to seven years, but in this incident there was no proof that the animal had been killed. We also learnt that they themselves (Teesta Urja) had earlier come forward to pay the compensation.”

The FIR had said the serow was found with a broken horn and blood around the spot where it lay. The post-mortem report had found blood clots in the brain and the veterinary officer had concluded that the animal had eaten cardboard and plastic sheets lying around in the project site.

The chief wildlife warden, however, said the developers would be warned that severe action would be initiated if such incidents were reported from the project site in future. Teesta Urja must also develop the protected areas around the site on an annual basis, which will include digging up waterholes so that the wild animals do not have to come to the Teesta to quench thirst. They must also adhere to certain other cautionary measures, like minimising the use of dynamites and explosives.

Officials of Teesta Urja said they were yet to learn about the fine imposed on them. Sunil Kamarkar, the officer-in-charge of the wildlife and environment wing of the company, said the site where the animal was found dead was not directly under Teesta Urja, but under a contractor SEW India Limited.