Sikkim Teesta Stage-III dam rupture during flash flood: NGT issues notice to Sikkim government, Sikkim Urja Limited, and NHPC Limited

The Sikkim government, Sikkim Urja Limited, and the NHPC Limited have received notice from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding a hearing concerning the rupture of the Sikkim Urja Teesta Stage-III dam at Chungthang during the recent flash flood.

The NGT's principle bench has released the notice. On October 20, a physical hearing with a hybrid option has been set.

The three parties have been requested to attend the hearing by the bench, which took up the matter suo motu. If they are unable to do so, the application will be considered and decided without them.

The notice from Arvind Kumar, deputy registrar, NGT (principal bench), added, "Take further notice that in default of your appearance on the date of above mentioned, the said Application will be heard and determined in your absence."

The largest hydroelectric project in Sikkim, a 1200 MW project at Chungthang, was reportedly destroyed in less than ten minutes after the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOP) from South Lhonak Lake on the intervening night of October 3 and 4.

Sixty percent of the project is owned by the Sikkim government and is run by Sikkim Urja Teesta Limited. In Sikkim, the NHPC also manages hydroelectric plants.

Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), the chief minister of Sikkim, stated shortly after the tragedy that although South Lhonak Lake had burst, the Teesta-III dam had also failed and caused significant damage downstream. This is the result of inadequate work. This was carried out by the previous administration. He stated his administration would launch an investigation.

When the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), headed by former Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, was in office in 2017, the dam was put into operation.

On the other hand, Chamling's side has refuted Golay's claim.

"Forensic investigation into the Teesta-III dam collapse is necessary. P.D. Rai, senior vice-president of the SDF, retorted, "There should also be an investigation on whether enough was done to prevent glacier lake outburst flood (GLOP)," stressing that the SDF administration had tried to lower the lake's water level.

If Golay believed the Teesta III dam was defective, the SDF questioned why the facility had not been dismantled by the time he took office in 2019.

Y.T. Lepcha, a Gangtok-based BJP MP, also lodged a complaint against Chamling.

In his protest, the BJP lawmaker stated, "We can trace the primary cause of all this devastation to the greed of the ex-C.M. Sri P.K. Chamling, who worked against public opinion."

In Sikkim, environmentalists have been against building dams. From June 22, 2007, to September 27, 2009, the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) embarked on a 915-day dharna in opposition to Sikkim's hydroelectric projects. Many people think that ACT's effort resulted in the cancellation of four hydroelectric projects in the Teesta basin.

Additionally, the state administration is laying the groundwork for the 520 MW Teesta Stage IV hydroelectric project at the same time as the NGT hearing.

According to sources, the land acquisition procedure had begun a few days prior to the October flash disaster.

Gyatso Lepcha, the general secretary of ACT, stated, "The Teesta stage IV hydro project must be scrapped as all previous studies and clearance for this project are irrelevant with the topography changing after the recent catastrophe."