Gangtok: The Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) on Thursday began its four-day foot march from Phidang in Dzongu, marking 19 years of its movement to protect the Teesta River and raise concerns over hydropower development in Sikkim.
The march commenced after a traditional Lepcha ritual in Dzongu, with activists, local residents and supporters gathering to seek blessings before setting out towards Melli under the theme “Teesta Matters to Me.”
Speaking at the launch of the march, ACT General Secretary Gyatso Lepcha said the movement was not confined to the people of Dzongu alone but was a cause for every citizen of Sikkim.
“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,” he said.
He alleged that the construction of hydropower projects and dams along the Teesta had become a bane for the state, claiming that instead of bringing economic development, several areas along the Teesta belt were witnessing land subsidence and environmental degradation.
Referring to the recent tunnel tragedy at the Teesta Stage VI Hydropower Project, Lepcha said methane gas had emerged as a major challenge during tunnel excavation for hydropower projects. He maintained that such incidents highlighted the risks associated with large-scale construction activities in the fragile Himalayan region.
Calling for stronger environmental safeguards, he urged the government to allow the river to flow in its natural course.
“Let the Teesta flow as it is. Rivers should not be treated merely as sources of power generation,” he said.
Lepcha added that if the government’s attention was not drawn to the organisation’s demands, the movement would continue.
“We will continue our movement until our demands are addressed. Our fight is for the protection of the Teesta and the future of Sikkim,” he said.
Winona Lepcha, an affected citizen of Teesta, said, “For youngsters like us this is our first peace walk as we are very connected with Teesta River. The walk is for the river, the mountains and Sikkim. Most of the participants are youngsters with the guidance of elders. 2023 GLOF has posed a lot of challenges for the local communities. Dzongu has remained for most part after 2023 GLOF, with locals risking their lives to lay the Ru-Soam (cane bridge) for commute and supply of goods. Most in the banks of risk their life yet no one is being held accountable for the destruction along the river banks. There are no data to how many people have died or lost after GLOF, whether they have been compensated properly or not.”
The foot march is scheduled to conclude at Melli, where ACT will submit a memorandum to the Governor and the Chief Minister outlining its demands.
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