Teesta residents rally for justice, demonstrates against NHPC & GTA

DARJEELING,: Announcing October 4 as a ‘black day’, victims of Teesta River flash flood falling under Kalimpong district took out a rally from Teesta bazaar to NHPC Teesta Low Dam project at 27^th Mile where they also held a demonstration.

It was on October 4, 2023 when the GLOF-triggered Teesta River flash flood happened which left a trail of destruction from North Sikkim up to lower Teesta riverine belt in Kalimpong district.

The victims in the Bengal side have been claiming that even after one year has passed since the calamity, they are still to get justice regarding the losses they suffered due to the Teesta flood.

The police force was seen blocking the rally, done under the banner of the Teesta Sangrakshan Manch (TSM), some distance away from the premises of the Teesta Low Dam project where a demonstration was held for some time.

Under the request of the demonstrators, the police allowed them to move till the first gate of the NHPC. In the rally, slogans were shouted against the NHPC and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration asking why justice had been delayed.

The victims are claiming that the Rs 75,000 received as relief from the Bengal State government was not sufficient for them as most had lost their entire homes and their means of livelihood which had been washed away by the Teesta River last year. They have been demanding a proper survey be done by the government and get justice accordingly along with protection and safety of those staying along river Teesta in NH 10.

NHPC Teesta Low Dam III general manager Pradeep Kumar Ray tried to pacify the demonstrators.

“We know about your demand and we are trying to do the maximum we can. One of your main demands is compensation for those whose houses were destroyed but whenever a disaster takes place it is not due to the NHPC that it happens. Both of us have been affected by this disaster and we are trying to see if we can provide relief to you in any way, for which we have done the process,” he said.

Further maintaining that they were with the people, Ray said that they had also processed the proposal submitted to them by the GTA but it all depended on the approval of the budget which was not in the hands of the power station. He requested the people for some patience as this was a government company and it was bound by rules and regulations. He added that protection work for NH 10 was also going on with it being done according to availability of funds.

After the assurances given by the NHPC, the TSM member Kishore Pradhan said, “We are not happy by the assurances given by the NHPC today as it is the same one that they have been giving to us for many times now. The disaster which took place that day was due to the NHPC. If they were not responsible, we would not have come here.”

“If the government wants, they can do anything and we want a solution for this until we will continue our agitation which could even take a different turn in the coming days,” said Pradhan while threatening to stop the power generation there if their demands were not met.

The TSM member maintained that they would decide their future course of action after a meeting while adding that they plan to include NGOs and political parties in their programs.

The Hamro Party extended support to the program today with their party president Ajoy Edwards taking part in the rally.