ACT begins four-day Teesta march, seeks stronger river protection

PANKAJ DHUNGEL

GANGTOK,: Marking 19 years of its movement to protect the Teesta River, the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) on Friday began a four-day foot march along

the river, from Phidang in Dzongu, North Sikkim, to Melli in South Sikkim,

demanding greater protection for the Teesta and raising concerns over hydropower projects across the State.

The march, organised under the theme “Teesta Matters to Me,” began after a traditional Lepcha ritual in Dzongu, where monks offered prayers before participants set out on the journey. The march will pass through Dikchu, Tumin, Rangpo and the Teesta-Rangeet confluence at Triveni before concluding at Melli, where ACT will submit a memorandum to the Governor and the Chief Minister.

Speaking at the launch, ACT general secretary Gyatso Lepcha said the march comes at a significant time, following the recent tunnel tragedy at the Teesta Stage VI Hydropower Project in Samardung and nearly three years after the October 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF).

“What better time than now, when we are witnessing disasters during the monsoon and after the recent incident at Teesta Stage VI where more than 20 lives were lost. As we walk along the river, we can see the stress and destruction this cascade of dams has created in these fragile mountains,” he said.

Lepcha said the movement was not limited to the people of Dzongu but represented everyone connected to the Teesta.

“This is not only a movement for the people of Dzongu. It is a movement for all the people of Sikkim because the Teesta belongs to everyone. The river connects communities from Sikkim to North Bengal and Bangladesh, and every community has a right to a living river.”

He said ACT has spent the last 19 years questioning large-scale hydropower development on the Teesta and claimed the movement had helped stop several proposed projects.

Referring to the recent Samardung tunnel incident, Lepcha questioned the claim that hydropower is a clean source of energy.

“The Stage VI incident has exposed the narrative of dams being green and clean energy. Tunnel construction releases methane gas, one of the most potent greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. These projects were never truly green.”

He said visible erosion, sinking villages and damaged roads along the Teesta showed that the environmental impacts of hydropower projects continued even after the 2023 GLOF.

“The priority appears to be rebuilding dams rather than rebuilding public infrastructure and restoring the lives of affected people. Let the Teesta flow in its natural course. Rivers should not be treated merely as sources of electricity.”

The ACT general secretary said the four-day march would cover more than 80 kilometres while connecting river communities from upstream to downstream.

After completing the first day’s walk, Lepcha said participants received an encouraging response from local communities.

“People downstream welcomed us warmly. It was also important to see the condition around Teesta Stage V. While restoration has been claimed, the erosion and sinking villages along the stretch tell a different story.”

The march will also pause near the Teesta-Rangeet confluence, where participants will pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the 2023 GLOF and recent project-related incidents.

ACT member Mayalmit Lepcha described the march as an important effort to spread awareness about the river’s ecological and cultural significance.

“The Teesta is a transboundary river flowing from Sikkim through West Bengal and into Bangladesh. For the Lepcha community, it has deep spiritual, cultural and traditional importance. Protecting it is our responsibility.”

She said participants witnessed several landslide-prone areas, damaged roads and erosion while walking along the river.

“People should understand that these are not only natural disasters. Human interventions have intensified the damage. Before projects like the 510 MW Teesta Stage V dam in Dikchu, people did not experience erosion on this scale.”

Questioning the benefits of hydropower projects, she said local communities had sacrificed land and livelihoods without receiving adequate returns.

“What are we getting from these projects? We are sacrificing our land and our lives. It is time for people to come out and speak for their future generations.”

Mayalmit also said climate change and expanding glacial risks made continued dam construction increasingly dangerous.

ACT member Hishey Lachungpa, who previously campaigned against proposed dams in Lachung, said public opinion had changed significantly over the years.

“Today, very few people would say dams have brought development. People have seen the damage. If our concerns are ignored, we will continue democratic protests, whether through foot marches or demonstrations.”

He said people’s participation had earlier helped prevent proposed hydropower projects in Lachung and hoped similar public support would grow across Sikkim.

Young participant Winona Lepcha said this was the first peace walk for many members of her generation.

“For youngsters like us, this is our first peace walk because we are deeply connected with the Teesta. This walk is for the river, the mountains and the future of Sikkim.”

She said communities in Dzongu continued to face hardships following the 2023 GLOF.

“Dzongu remained cut off for a long time after the GLOF. Local people risked their lives to build cane bridges for transport and supplies. Many people living along the river suffered, but there is still no clear data on how many lost their lives or whether affected families were properly compensated.”

She added that despite the challenges, the participants remained motivated throughout the journey.

“Walking beside the Teesta gives us strength. It feels like the river itself is encouraging us to continue.”

Throughout the march, ACT members highlighted concerns over major hydropower projects, including Teesta Stage III in Chungthang, Teesta Stage IV in Dzongu, the 510 MW Teesta Stage V project in Dikchu, Teesta Stage VI, the Panam project and other projects undertaken by NHPC, arguing that repeated disasters and changing climatic conditions warrant a review of dam development across the Teesta basin.

The four-day march will conclude at Melli in South Sikkim, where ACT will submit a memorandum to the Governor and the Chief Minister seeking stronger protection for the Teesta River and greater attention to the concerns of communities living along its banks.