Trouble ahead of Teesta dams
Kalimpong, July 9:The movement against NHPC’s Teesta Low Dam Projects here has received a shot in the arm by the protests in Sikkim against the mega hydel power projects coming up in the Lepcha reserve of Dzongu.
Rong Ong Prongzom, the Kalimpong-based organisation of Lepcha youths, today announced that it would block NH 31A on Wednesday to express their solidarity with the Sikkim protesters.
The Siliguri-based North Eastern Society for Preservation of Nature, on the other hand, has decided to organise village meetings to get the community’s opinion on the Teesta low dams, which are in various stages of implementation. The Society believes that it is important to ask people about the projects now when their adverse effects on the environment have become evident.
“We can show the people how scientific studies were bypassed by NHPC,” said Society secretary Saumitra Ghosh.
The Society is in touch with Affected Citizens of Teesta, which is leading the Dzongu protests, as well as the Kalimpong-based NH 31A Bachao Committee.
A sustained campaign by the Committee has recently resulted in the Union surface transport ministry asking the Geological Survey of India to investigate the landslides on NH 31A, which many believe are caused by the NHPC projects.
Rong Ong Prongzom, the Kalimpong-based organisation of Lepcha youths, today announced that it would block NH 31A on Wednesday to express their solidarity with the Sikkim protesters.
The Siliguri-based North Eastern Society for Preservation of Nature, on the other hand, has decided to organise village meetings to get the community’s opinion on the Teesta low dams, which are in various stages of implementation. The Society believes that it is important to ask people about the projects now when their adverse effects on the environment have become evident.
“We can show the people how scientific studies were bypassed by NHPC,” said Society secretary Saumitra Ghosh.
The Society is in touch with Affected Citizens of Teesta, which is leading the Dzongu protests, as well as the Kalimpong-based NH 31A Bachao Committee.
A sustained campaign by the Committee has recently resulted in the Union surface transport ministry asking the Geological Survey of India to investigate the landslides on NH 31A, which many believe are caused by the NHPC projects.
