Environmental group seeks PM's intervention

Pradip Chatterjee, SNS, Kolkata, 26 July 2013: A conglomeraation of environmental organisations from the state has written to the Prime Minister, seeking his intervention in tackling environmental hazards posed by the construction of hydro-power dams on the Teesta river in Darjeeling. 

The letter, coming as it does against the backdrop of the devastation in Uttarakhand, mentions that several guard walls in the vicinity of the Teesta Low Dam Projects (TLDP) at Gayelkhola, Rambhi and Riyang, among others, have been breached at several places over the past two weeks; this is resulting in the dam water flowing directly on to unguarded slopes that may cave in the event of moderate to heavy rainfall. 

Officials of NHPC -- the corporation had erected the guard walls -- have asked villagers to evacuate the affected villages. They have promised monthly house rent of Rs 2,000 to 15 families living near the dam site for four months. 

The letter written by Sabuj Mancha states villagers have been denied long-term rehabilitation; it also states there are at least 70 families living along the affected stretch who have been denied any support. 

Organisations and experts have time and again pointed out that the river will be flooded during heavy rains and cause serious damage to people living along NH-31A. 

A 20-km stretch of the highway -- from Sevok Bazar, Kalijhora to Teesta Bazar -- has already suffered severe damages and is on the brink of being washed away, observed a fact-finding team of Sabuj Mancha. 

A copy of the letter has been sent to the chief minister, the Union minister for environment and forests and the chief executive officer of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. 

Mr Naba Dutta, convener of Sabuj Mancha, alleged the TLDP projects undertaken by NHPC were being built in violation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006. A fact finding committee that was earlier associated with the Environment Impact Assessment for TLDP also recently raised concerns about the projects.