In the remote Himalayan state of Sikkim, India, the Indigenous Lepcha people are voicing their concerns about a new dam projefct that they fear will bring disaster to their communities. The proposed rebuilding of the Teesta III dam, which was destroyed in a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in October 2023, has sparked widespread opposition from local residents who are worried about the risks of another flood and the impact on their land, culture, and way of life.
The GLOF that occurred on October 4, 2023, was a catastrophic event that caused widespread destruction and loss of life in Sikkim, West Bengal, and Bangladesh. The flood was triggered by the sudden avalanche of ice and rock into the South Lhonak Lake, which breached the lake’s moraine wall and released millions of cubic meters of water. The resulting floodwave destroyed the 1,200-megawatt Teesta III dam, killing at least 55 people and displacing thousands.
Despite the risks, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has approved plans to rebuild the Teesta III dam without public consultation. Experts and local communities are questioning the decision, citing concerns about the safety of the project and the potential for future disasters. “A detailed risk assessment considering future climate scenarios, glacial behavior, hydrological changes, and sedimentation rates is essential before deciding to rebuild the dam in the same location,” says Farooq Azam, senior cryosphere specialist at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
The Lepcha community is deeply concerned about the potential impact of the dam on their land, culture, and way of life. “We are animists,” says Mayalmit Lepcha, a climate activist with Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT). “Our traditions, culture, identity, and everything else are tied to Mount Kanchenjunga, Teesta, Rangeet, and Rongyong rivers here.” The community is worried that the dam will disrupt the natural flow of the river, causing landslides, erosion, and damage to their homes and agricultural land.
The future of the Lepcha community hangs in the balance as the government pushes ahead with the dam project. Tashi Choden Lepcha, a resident of Naga village, lost her home in the 2023 flood and is still living in a temporary shelter. “We have no future here,” she says, her voice filled with worry. “If the government gives us land in a safe location, we can build a house. How long can we live like this?”
Experts and local communities are calling for caution and transparency in the decision-making process. “We’re going to have more GLOFs, there’s no doubt,” says Mayalmit. “People will have confidence only if decisions are based on proper impact assessments, considering all factors, and done in a transparent way.” The fate of the Lepcha community and the future of the Teesta River hang in the balance, as the government weighs the benefits of the dam against the potential risks and costs.