Teesta Bazaar: Residents of Teesta Bazaar fear that their town could be wiped off the map if urgent protection measures are not taken following fresh damages from the recent heavy rains and dam releases.
According to Madan Chettri, President of Teesta Sangrakshan Samiti, “There have been similar incidents to 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood on 28 – 29 July. What happened this time is entirely due to the heavy rainfall and the dams are opened in Sikkim. Our livelihoods are affected and the public have to evacuate,” Chettri said.
In 2023, about 170 houses from Teesta to Nojak along the banks of Teesta river were damaged. Now, there are renewed risk due to landslides and silt deposits from NHPC dam operations. Chettri explained that the riverbed has risen by at least 15 metres compared to earlier, increasing the threat of overflow during high discharge.
Authorities from West Bengal and engineers are currently conducting technical surveys to assess the damage and prepare compensation reports. However, locals complain that no concrete protection measures have been initiated yet.
“Despite damages, people are still living here. Whether there will be rehabilitation elsewhere or reconstruction here — we want protection, compensation, and risk reduction. So far, the government has only given us some relief initially; after that, nothing,” Chettri said.
The Teesta Sangrakshan Samiti has renewed its demand for an immediate construction of a protection wall along vulnerable stretches of Teesta Bazaar. “We need a protection wall here urgently, otherwise Teesta Bazaar will disappear. If there is no protection wall, it will only remain in history,” Chettri warned.
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