Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) - Environment Impact Assessment
ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
Mandatory Public Hearings as per the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 1994 have been completed for Teesta Stage III (1200 MW) and Stage VI (500 MW) hydroelectric projects. These public hearings were procedurally flawed and the EIAs and EMPs for the projects were incomplete and inadequate. Indigenous people from the area strongly protested against the construction of the project during the pubic hearings and also gave written submissions indicating their concerns. The EIA for Teesta Stage III was a shabby document, which did not have any details about the basic issues that an EIA is supposed to address. It did not contain the mandatory four seasonal (winter and monsoon periods) studies. These and several other several anomalies were highlighted to the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB). Affected citizens also issued a Legal Notice challenging the Public Hearing and seeking to declare it null and void. Despite this these projects are currently being considered for grant of environmental clearance by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), and a decision is likely to be taken soon.
Though these are portrayed as Developmental projects the serious negative impacts of these mega projects on the Fragile Environment and the poorest of the Poor Citizens have seriously affected and are further likely to affect the rich bio-Diversity of the state. It will also seriously erode the cultural sensitivities and homes of the in indigenous populations in the State.
All the voices of popular discontent, concerns and apprehension have been totally ignored and the saga of sufferings of the people and the destruction of the environment carries on.
Instead of projects of development and National interest these projects have become projects of environmental destruction, genocide and of commercial interest only.
Teesta III Hydropower project:
This 1200 MW project is being executed in Sikkim by M/s Teesta Urja Limited. Teesta Urja Ltd is an Athena Group company. The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for the River Valley and hydropower projects of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, in its minutes for the April 21, 2009 meeting notes with reference to the Teesta III project, "It was seen during the field visit that the excavated materials are dumped on the slope of the Teesta River without constructing the retaining wall. There was every possibility of the excavated material going down in the river with heavy rain, as the rainy season has already started." Such dumping of the excavated material is in complete violation of the Environment Protection Act and also the conditions of clearance given to the project. The EAC response was totaly inadequate, "The committee directed the project authorities to carry out the construction of retaining walls immediately at all muck disposal sites, before the actual construction takes place."
Moreover in December 2008, the Central Electricity Authority of Govt of India observed that Teesta Urja had made serious deviations from the approved DPR (detailed Project Report) for the 1200 Mega Watts Teesta III project and this was brought to the notice of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydro electric projects of Ministry of Environment and Forests on January 1, 2009 by civil society groups. This issue was discussed in the April 21, 2009 EAC meeting and the minutes note, "changes adopted by Teesta Urja contravene environmental clearance accorded on 3rd August, 2006, as per the recommendations made by the EAC and the project was issued environmental clearance with a condition that:- In case of change in the scope of the project, project would require a fresh appraisal".
The Carrying Capacity Study of Teesta Basin in Sikkim by Centre for Inter Disciplinary Studies of Mountain & Hill Environment (CISMHE), notes that Chungthang, the location of the Teesta III project is one of the areas where high diversity of mammals, birds and reptiles is found. Further, the conclusion of the CISMHE study (page 80-81) is unequivocal, "Looking at the number of species of studied taxa and endemic exclusive and endangered species of studied taxa, Zone III is very sensitive and if the development project (stage-III) is executed in this zone (1800-2800 m, Temperate broadleaf forest, near Chungthang), an irreversible ecological damage is expected with respect to biological environs." The report further says (page 210), the project would lead to loss of biological "wealth which is unique to this region". Shockingly, the EIA of the project found no wildlife in the project area. It is clear that the EIA of the project was of very poor quality.
Source: Arunachal News
Derogatory Reference to Women of tribal Communities of Sikkim in EIA Report
Traditionally, the people of Sikkim consider the womenfolk as their honour and concerted efforts have been made to safeguard the dignity of women in light of their exploitation, particularly of the women from poorer sections of our society.
Much to our astonishment and anger, the EIA report states in section 5.3 on 'Ethnographic aspects' that:
"The tribal society, as in most of the other tribes of India, imposes rigid restrictions on marriage in terms of clan exogamy and community endogamy. The society does not permit marriage outside the group. However within the group, relatively relaxed norms are followed. For instance, unlike other non-tribal communities, chastity of women at the time of marriage does not hold a lot of importance. Pre-marital and extra-marital relationships are not uncommon. The women are not bound by many restrictions and have more freedom."
To the people of Sikkim, the above statements of the EIA report are seriously offensive because they undermine the dignity of the womenfolk and are also untrue. In this context, does the project developer and the Government of Sikkim intend to bypass the issue of honour and dignity of our womenfolk in pursuit of so called economic development? Should we tolerate such blatant disrespect of our mothers, sisters, daughters and womenfolk in general?
| SATYAGRAHA |
Warriors for a Cause
"I will die but won't allow the mega power projects in Dzongu" - Dawa Lepcha.
Two Lepcha youths from Dzongu rocked the state of Sikkim and the world with their selfless stand against the hydro projects. Dawa T. Lepcha and Tenzing Lepcha went on hunger strike in the spirit of Gandhian Satyagraha from June 22, 2007 to September 27, 2009.
Chronicles of the campaign - and more - at
| TEESTA |
Will the Teesta river survive? In order to construct one kilometer of tunnel, approximately 150 tons of dynamite are required. Imagine how much blasting will be done for 30 power projects! Seventy percent of the river to flow underground!
| DZONGU |
Dzongu in North Sikkim is the holy place for Lepchas spread all over the world. Process has begun for seven mega power projects spanning the length and breadth of this protected area.
| ENVIRONMENT |
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)
Blatant violations of procedural and environmental norms. Get the distressing facts at our EIA-page.
| TEESTA STAGE V |
Much went wrong during design, assessment and construction of Teesta Stage V HEP. For a truly sustainable and adapted development, a different approach is required.
| VIOLATIONS |
Environment Protection Act (EPA) as well as Forest Conservation Act (FCA) were repeatedly violated by the companies involved. A non-exhaustive listing for Teesta Stage V only (NHPC).
| DOCUMENTS |
• Statements, appeals and proceedings by ACT
• Scientific papers substantiating ACT's concerns
• Press reports covering disproportionate projects in Sikkim and ACT's struggle for protection
| MEDIA |
• Photo-Galleries
• Collection of Documentaries
© Affected Citizens of Teesta 2007 - 2020
NGOs supporting ACT: Concerned Lepchas of Sikkim (CLOS) - Sangha of Dzongu (SOD) - Citizens Forum of Sikkim (CFS) - Sikkimese Association for Environment
While all the organizations supporting ACT share the common goal of protecting the environment, individual groups can, and sometimes do, differ in their approaches to specific issues highlighted above. The stand taken by ACT does not necessarily includes of everybody in Sikkim and other parts. If anyone wishes to differ, they are welcomed to put forward their views, comments and disagreements to info@actsikkim.com. Everybody is welcome!